M'sia DPM Phones Indonesia Vice President Over Lombok Quake Tragedy

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 9 (Bernama) – Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail telephoned Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla Wednesday to express condolences and sympathies over the deaths and destruction caused by two recent earthquakes in Lombok. She also informed him of Malaysia’s readiness to send any form of aid which the Indonesian government would require in its search and rescue operation. “Dr Wan Azizah also expressed gratitude to the Indonesian government’s assistance in sending home the remains of Malaysian Siti Nur Ies’ Mawida Ismail who was killed during the quake in Lombok on July 29,” said a statement from the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office. 17 people were killed in that quake, of magnitude 6.8. The second quake, of magnitude 7.0, struck Lombok on Aug 6 and reportedly claimed the lives of 142 people. Dr Wan Azizah also took the opportunity to thank the Indonesian government for sending to Malaysia the superyacht ‘Equanimity’ which the Indonesian authorities had seized at the request of US authorities early this year. The RM1-billion yacht, which is at the centre of a US investigation into 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), is now at the Boustead Cruise Centre terminal in Pulau Indah, Klang Selangor. -- BERNAMA