Malaysia donates $100,000 for relief efforts

MANILA, Philippines—Malaysia has donated $100,000 (approximately P4.4 million) to the Manila government’s relief efforts in areas devastated by flash floods in northern Mindanao, according to the Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

In a report to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia J. Eduardo Malaya on Thursday said Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato Sri Anifah Aman had personally turned over the amount during a ceremony held at the official’s office in Putrajaya.

“This modest contribution will, at the very least, ease the burden of the affected government to rehabilitate and reconstruct the areas affected by the destructive floods,” said Malaya, quoting Anifah.

“Malaysia recognizes the Association of Southeast Asian Nations initiative to work together on flood prevention, mitigation, relief, recovery, and rehabilitation. It is hoped that through this initiative, we can build emergency preparedness and response capacity to address disasters in all their forms,” Anifah also said.

Also present during the ceremony were Deputy Secretary General Husni Zai Yaacob of the Malaysian foreign ministry, Secretary General Mohamed Thajudeen bin Abdul Wahab of the National Security Council and Philippine Consul Gonaranao Musor, among others.

Earlier, the Filipino-Malaysian community in Kuala Lumpur forwarded $1,000 to the flood victims through the Philippine National Red Cross.