Malaysians Send More Aid For Thai Flood Victims

From Zainal Abdul Jalil SONGKHLA, Nov 21 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has sent two containers of drinking water and "halal" dry and canned goods under the fourth despatch of aid for victims of Thailand's massive floods. The RM30,000 (US$9,475) worth of aid, contributed by national power provider Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), was handed over to Songkhla Islamic Council president Zakaria Salleh at the Songkhla Mosque Saturday evening by Latt Shariman Abdullah, special functions officer of the prime minister. "Prime Minister Najib Razak asked me to coordinate the despatch of the humanitarian aid by non-governmental and voluntary organisations to Bangkok. "More than three million people in Bangkok and Ayutthaya have been affected by floods since August," he told Malaysian journalists here. Latt Shariman said a team of experienced medical personnel would be sent to Bangkok along with medicines once the floods have subsided to help prevent the spread of contagious diseases. Montree Keawphang, an aide to the Thai interior minister, TNB vice-president (corporate affairs) Adelina Iskandar and TNB Kedah general manager (distribution) Suid Othman were also present at the handing over of the aid. Latt Shariman said Malaysis's national oil company Petronas sent to Bangkok three days ago more than two million bottles of mineral water for the flood victims. Adelina said the TNB contribution was made in view of the difficulty experienced by about 50,000 Muslim flood victims in getting halal food and drinks. Almost 600 people have been killed in Thailand’s worst floods in half a century, triggered by months of unusually heavy monsoon rains, with Ayutthaya and Bangkok the worst-hit cities. Meanwhile, Montree said more than three million people in Bangkok and Ayutthaya need instant foods such as noodles, biscuits and canned food while waiting for the floods to recede in about two weeks if the rain eases off and there is no extremely high tides. "Right now, the floodwaters flowing south have caused the Chao Phraya River to burst its banks and the sandbags piled up to check the floodwaters from entering Bangkok City have been breached in several places. "Nanthaburi, which borders Bangkok and Ayutthaya, as well as Nongchok and Minburi, which have a largely Muslim population are the worst-affected areas," he said. He said the need for clean drinking water has eased a little because several factories affected by the floods have resumed operations since. "When the floodwaters subside, we will need medicines," he said, adding that the international community has promised aid. -- BERNAMA Malaysia