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Friday 13 August 2010

Bakti Will Send Humanitarian Aid To Pakistan, Says Rosmah

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12 (Bernama) -- The Welfare Association of Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti) will send humanitarian aid to Pakistan to help the country, which has been affected by the worst flood disaster in its history, said the Prime Minister's wife and Bakti president Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.

Rosmah conveyed this message during her 15-minute telephone call to Pakistan Prime Minister's wife Begum Fouzia Yousaf Raza Gillani Thursday night.

Rosmah told Fouzia that among the items Bakti planned to send were children's milk powder, biscuits, cooking oil, flour, toiletries and baby diapers.

"I expressed sympathy on behalf of Malaysians...especially on behalf of women and children (of this country)...I can feel the suffering of the people there," Rosmah told Bernama here Thursday night.

Rosmah said the aid would be sent on Aug 23 by a Royal Malaysian Air Force aircraft to Karachi to be distributed to the affected areas.

"These are the things I think the people over there need...This will the first consignment of aid to them from us...but later on if we feel much is more needed, we will consider seriously (to send more)," said Rosmah.

Rosmah said Fouzia expressed her appreciation for the help to be rendered by Bakti as well to the government of Malaysia, which on Thursday gave a US$1 million (about RM3.18 million) donation to Pakistan to help the country handle its worst floods in 80 years that have left 1,600 people dead besides displacing more than 15 million others.

Rosmah told Fouzia that the help was out of sincerity and in the spirit of brotherhood between the people of Malaysia and Pakistan.

"And she (Fouzia) said that the government will make sure the aid went to the right people," said Rosmah.

"Any time you need us we are always here (to help)," Rosmah had told Fouzia.

In her conversation, Rosmah also said that she prayed for the wellbeing of the people of Pakistan at this difficult time.

She said Fouzia told her that she was very grateful that she (Rosmah) had called her in Pakistan's hour of need and also mentioned the role played by Mercy Malaysia in assisting the victims.

"I am very happy with that..congratulations to Mercy for being there," said Rosmah.

Rosmah said that she was thankful to the Prime Minister for granting approval to send the aid through RMAF, adding that Bakti had already written a letter to the RMAF chief on the matter.

According to Rosmah, the aircraft could only transport up to 25,000 pounds of goods.

Rosmah said that Bakti had contacted a lot of donors, Bakti's regular donors known as "friends of Bakti" and that they were willing to donate the needed items.

"Please extend help to the victims if able to contribute, especially in cash as it would enable Bakti to act faster" said Rosmah, adding that she felt very sad for the victims of the natural disaster, more so it being the Ramadan month.

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