Close To $400,000 In Donations Collected For Quake Relief Fund
By P. Marilyn

Bandar Seri Begawan - Donations collected for the Yogyakarta and the surrounding areas Earthquake Relief Fund since its establishment on June 1, 2006 up till yesterday amounted to B$379,028.50.

This was disclosed yesterday during the meeting of the National Committee of the Yogyakarta and the surrounding areas Earthquake Relief Fund at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.

Yesterday's event also saw the presentation of donations from various contributors in a ceremony marking the closure of the Yogyakarta and the surrounding areas Earthquake Relief Fund.

-On hand to receive the donations was the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Pehin Major General (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Awg Hj Mohammad, in his capacity as Advisor to the National Committee of the Yogyakarta and the surrounding areas Earthquake Relief Fund.

Also present at the event was the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry, Dato Paduka Awg Hj Jemat bin Hj Ampal. Members of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces and Charity Golf Match for the victims of Yogyakarta earthquake contributed a total of B$8,605, presented by Colonel Pg Dato Paduka Hj Rosli bin Pg Hj Chuchu, representative for the Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces.

Meanwhile, donations from several departments under the Ministry of Education including higher learning institutions and schools throughout the nation amounted to $24,414.

Heads of villages, youth associations and NGOs from the Tutong District contributed $883 to the fund.

Donation boxes placed in mosques and suraus brought in cash amounting to $30,483.50. The donation was presented by Hj Abdul Kahar bin Hj Hussin, Acting Director of Mosque Affairs.

DSTCom customers contributed a total of $107,998 through the SMS 8885555 service, while staff of DST Group collected $335 in donations that were presented by Hj Marsad Hj Ismail, Chief Operating Officer, DST Communication Sdn Bhd.

The Brunei Darussalam Banks Association meanwhile collected donations totalling $17,684.21. Mr Glen Rase, Director of Citibank cum Chairman of Brunei Darussalam Banks Association, presented the donations.

Donations collected from the "SMS Brunei Prihatin for the Yogyakarta and the surrounding areas relief fund" by B-Mobile Communications came up to B$14,921 and contributions made by the Welfare Body of Wives of RBAF Personnel (BAKTI) with the total of $500.

Hotel guests too made donations, which amounted to $538.85 including in foreign currencies. The donations were presented by Awg Mohd Iswandi bin Maaruf, Operations Manager, Orchid Garden Hotel.

With the consent of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the Yogyakarta and its surrounding areas Earthquake Relief Fund was established to collect donations from residents in the Sultanate in an effort to help lessen the sufferings shouldered by the victims of the earthquake that struck Yogyakarta in Indonesia and its surroundings areas on May 27 this year.

The natural disaster resulted in approximately 6,000 deaths and injured more than 40,000. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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