People of Brunei Give Generously To Tsunami Victims

Bandar Seri Begawan – The Tsunami Disaster Relief Fund has so far collected more than $3,000 dollars.

The amount, which included pledges from donors, was raised shortly after the launching of the humanitarian fund by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.

The Relief Fund for the tsunami victims was launched by the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Pehin Dato Doctor Haji Awang Hussin, and the Minister of Religious Affairs, Pehin Dato Doctor Ustaz Haji Awang Mohd Zain. Both Ministers were the Co-Advisors for fund's Committee.

Prior to the launching of the fund, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport said that Brunei also shared the grief of the victims of the tsunami disaster.

With the consent of His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei, the Aid Fund For The Tsunami Victims was established. The formation of fund, minister said, is to give an opportunity for the people of Brunei to help in anyway they could to help the survivors of the disaster.

It was followed by a meeting for members of the Fund Committee, co chaired by the Permanent Secretaries at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Religious Affairs to handle all matters related to the Fund.

Members of the Fund Committee comprised representatives of government and non-government agencies. The committee is responsible in conducting any matters related to the collection of donation from the public in the country.

Awang Haji Jemat. bin Ampal, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports said donations should preferably be in cash because it is easy to send.

Since the fund was formed less than a week ago, there has been an overwhelming response from the public. The donation will be handed over in stages to the tsunami survivors as soon as possible.

Those who wish to make donations may contact the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports through telephone numbers: 2380667 or 2380693, and the Community Development Department telephone number: 2380705.

Meanwhile, the Education Ministry with the cooperation of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports urge the public to donate generously to the just-formed humanitarian fund in a show of deep concern toward the plight of the tsunami victims in the region.

The community can give any form of donation the Minister of Education, Yang Pehin Dato Haji Awang Abdul Aziz, made the call in an exclusive interview with RTB.

During the consultation, both Ministers agreed for the Ministry of Education to ask schools throughout the country to organise fund-raising activities among their students. He said any amount of donation, even for one or two cents, is much appreciated to help alleviate the sufferings of the tsunami survivors.

The Minister of Education also reminded every level of the community of their role in voluntarily giving support to those who desperately need of assistance. He called on pupils of primary schools, and students of secondary schools and higher learning institutions, to show their kindness by taking part in the humanitarian project.

Following the consultation with the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Pehin called all principals and headmasters throughout the country for a meeting.

He explained to them that Brunei's contribution to the victims is a show of gratitude to Allah the Almighty that the nation has been spared from the tragedy.

Secondly, he said the good deed of the people is a prayer to ask Allah the Almighty to avert any natural disaster from affecting the country. Thirdly, it is to answer His Majesty's titah to give any form of donations.

In the meantime, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Dato Paduka Haji Sheikh Adanan, announced that the Ministry has also formed its own secretariat to handle the relief fund. Students can contribute one dollar to the fund.

He also reminded the community to come forward to give any kind of contributions before Saturday. Any enquiry can be made through hotline: 2380620 and 2380880, or fax their details to 2380880.

Meanwhile, the RTB News Centre has contacted the Brunei Embassies in Thailand and Indonesia, as well as the Brunei High Commission in Malaysia, to get the latest development on whether any Brunei citizens are involved in the tsunami disaster in the three Asean countries.

Yesterday morning, the Brunei Temporary Charge D'Affairs in Thailand, Awang Zaini bin Hj Mahmud, explained that the embassy received a telephone call from a Brunei citizen who reported that his daughter and a friend were atone of the Islands in Thailand when the tsunami struck on the 26th of December.

According to him, the two were attending a scuba diving course. Until today, the family has not received any news from them. The Brunei Embassy has been trying to contact the relevant authorities in Thailand to provide information regarding the two citizens.

The Brunei Ambassador in Jakarta, His Excellency Dato Paduka Seri Setia Doctor Hj Mohd Amin, said the Embassy is still monitoring the situation in Indonesia following the disaster. Until today, no Bruneians are reported to have been involved in the disaster.

Meanwhile, the First Secretary of the Brunei High Commission in Malaysia, Awang Hj Sufian bin Pehin Orang Kaya Maharaja Selia Awg Hj Mohd Tarif, said the high commission office is also following closely the development in places where the disaster struck.

The high commission office has received calls from a Brunei student in. Penang, and reported that the student is safe and sound. -- Courtesy of Radio Television Brunei

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