PUTRAJAYA: The Sultan of Johor and the Malaysian Government have pledged a total of US$2mil (RM8.6mil) to earthquake victims in Turkiye and Syria, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar had consented to donate US$1mil (RM4.3mil), while the government would also extend cash aid of US$1mil to the victims.
“We hope our assistance and contribution will help ease the pain and difficulties faced by the people in Turkiye and Syria who have been affected by the earthquake,” he said.
The 7.8-magnitude earthquake happened in the early hours of Feb 6, hitting both countries.
The death toll is already in the thousands.
Meanwhile, a second batch of the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance Rescue Team (SMART) has been dispatched to Turkiye to assist in rescue operations there.
The 70-man team, comprising members of the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), the Civil Defence Force and the Fire and Rescue Department, left last night.
A team had already been sent on Monday, and Malaysia was among the first countries to render assistance to Turkiye.
“We are fulfilling the request of the government of Turkiye to send another team there.
“They are happy with the assistance given by the team which we had dispatched earlier,” Anwar said after chairing the weekly Cabinet meeting.
The Prime Minister said that due to the “complicated” situation and restrictions in Syria, the financial contribution for the country would be channelled through an international body.
“The Cabinet was also informed by the Defence Ministry that it has a team of doctors and paramedics that are able to set up a field hospital on standby should Turkiye need such assistance,” he added.