Malaysia Hands Over US$1 Million to Thailand

By Jamaluddin Muhammad

BANGKOK (NNN-Bernama) -- Malaysia today handed over US$1 million   to Thailand as the latter battles the worst flood in decades.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman gave the money to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at the Flood Relief Operations Command Centre at the Don Muaeng Airport here.

"Malaysia hopes the assistance will contribute to easing the hardship faced by the people of Thailand," he said.

The minister said the Thai premier appreciated Malaysia's assistance and gave an indication that floods in the northern and central regions would recede in two weeks.

Also present at the ceremony was Malaysian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Thailand Nazirah Hussain.

Speaking to Bernama later, Anifah said the Malaysian Government would monitor the critical flood development and was willing to extend further assistance if the need arose.

He said the Malaysian Government was also willing to assist Malaysian manufacturers based in this country, whose businesses were affected by the floods.

"The assistance may include tax exemption, among others," said Anifah, adding that Malaysian companies should also help the Thai Government and its people in addressing the current flood woes.

During the brief visit, Anifah also met one of the badly-affected Malaysian companies, Aapico, which manufactures automobile components and estimated its damages at more than RM200 million, as a result of the floods.

On Asean assistance to member countries facing this kind of crisis, the foreign minister hoped the setting up of the Asean Coordination Centre for Humanitarian Assistance could be materialised at the Asean Summit in Bali next November.

About one-third of the country remains inundated, with 2.4 million people from more than 10,000 villages in 28 provinces in the northern and central regions, reeling from the after-effects of the disaster.

The flood struck the country in stages from July 25, resulting in the loss of 356 lives.

Over 14,000 factories with employed more than 660,000 workers are badly hit by the floods. According to the National Economic and Social Development Board, damage to the industrial sector is estimated at more than 100 billion Baht (about RM10 billion), and agricultural sector at more than 40 billion Baht (about RM4 billion), as a result of the crisis.

The Centre for Economic and Business Forecast at the University of Thai Chamber of Commerce estimated losses could hit 500 billion Baht (about RM50 billion), if the flood hits Bangkok's suburbs.

About 10 Malaysian manufacturing plants involved in automobiles component and electrical and electronic sectors were affected by the flood.--NNN-BERNAMA