RedCrescentPenang.org.my

TSUNAMI victims, now staying in temporary houses, can look forward to moving into brand new apartments in Tanjung Bungah by the end of next month.

The buka puasa event was jointly organised by Maxis Communications and the Malaysia Red Crescent Society (MRCS).  According to Maxis acting head of corporate affairs Datuk Ahmad A. Talib, this was the second time the company was hosting such an event for the state’s tsunami victims.

“The company will continue organising such gatherings to foster closer relations with the community,” he said.

About 100 Maxis and MRCS volunteers prepared the food for the buka puasa.

Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, who announced this yesterday, asked the victims staying in temporary houses in Jalan Batu Ferringhi to be patient for a little longer.

“I had hoped that the apartments would be ready before Hari Raya but I have been told that there is a slight delay in the construction work.

“I know this temporary settlement is not ideal but nonetheless, it has all the basic amenities and is quite comfortable for a temporary shelter.

“The new apartments will definitely be more comfortable,” he said in his buka puasa speech at the Batu Ferringhi settlement.

Last month, it was reported that the tsunami victims “were fed up with the delay”.

Some of them had also complained that the houses were smaller than what was promised.

Dr Koh later presented batik, kain pelekat and foodstuff to the 98 families living at the settlement.

T-shirts and duit raya were also presented to the 200 children present.

Aug 20 (Bernama) — The Boeing Company has presented a four-wheel-drive vehicle to the Penang branch of the Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS) as part of efforts to improve the quality of life in the communities in which it operates.

“The four-wheel drive will enable the society to be in a better position to render medical aid in remote areas in times of disaster,” said Boeing’s Regional Vice-President Paul Walters.  He said the US$28,000 (RM103,600) gift was decided by Boeing after a devastating tsunami hit Penang on Dec 26 last year.

Prior to the tsunami disaster, Boeing had donated an ambulance to the Penang branch of the MRCS last year but it was subsequently felt that a 4WD vehicle would serve the society better, especially in remote areas.

More than 60 people were killed by the tidal waves in Malaysia following an earthquake off Indonesia’s Aceh coast on Boxing Day.  As part of its good corporate citizenship efforts, Boeing had budgeted US$44 million worldwide “to put back into the communities where we live and work and 10 per cent of that is spent internationally,” said Walters.

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