LEGISLATOR DONATES PART OF PAY TO EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS

Jakarta, Oct. 1 (ANTARA) - Law maker from the National Mandate Party (PAN) faction Primus Yustisio expressed readiness to donate part of his first salary to the earthquake victims in West Sumatra.

"I am concerned about the ordeal facing our brothers and sisters in West Sumatra, because in afternoon today more than 200 people had lost their lives," Primus said after the inauguration of the new legislators in Jakarta Thursday.

He said the earthquake was so shocking.

According to another new legislator who also happened to be an artist, the disaster would leave wounds for many families.

"But every disaster must have lesson. There are even better lessons," he said.

He added that a similar initiative was also made by other new legislators to contribute part of their salary to help the earthquake victims.

However, he explained that the mechanism of contributing part of his first pay, depends to party policy.

However, Primus refused to say how much he had donated to the quake victims.

Although now a legislator, Primus still has a good place in the hearts of his fans.

After the inauguration, he was immediately surrounded by women, including teenagers to mothers, relatives of the newly installed legislators.

By Thursday afternoon, the death toll in the magnitude-7.6 earthquake has reached 215.
The fatalities were 139 in Padang City, 62 in Padang Pariaman district, and 14 in Pariaman town, according to data from the West Sumatra Governor office's disaster mitigation post command on Thursday.

However, based on information collected by ANTARA, thousands of people are believed to be trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings such as in Marapalam, Padang, Adira Finance Sawahan padang, a number of shops in Sawahan area in Padang City, Nurul Iman Mosque, Sari dispensary and Gama Training Course Building. ***2***