Malaysian Tsunami Disaster Fund

There was no clue at all on the beaches of Penang or Langkawi or the seas off Kuala Muda that today would be any different from any other day. School holidays, the day after Christmas, fine weather — all the ingredients for a day out on the beach.

Then, just as tragedies always happen — unannounced — the giant tsunami which wreaked destruction from the shores of Indonesia, to Malaysia, Thailand, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and India, struck.

More than 82,517 people have died and the death toll is still climbing.
In Malaysia, 66 people are dead. In a country where such disasters are a rarity, the tourist island of Penang is reeling.

The New Straits Times and Berita Harian newspapers, joined by TV3 and 8TV have launched a Malaysian Tsunami Disaster Fund to assist Government efforts in rehabilitating and helping the thousands of victims affected by this tragedy.

All contributions will be handed over to the Federal Government Disaster Fund.

Contributions can be sent to the New Straits Times or Berita Harian at Balai Berita, 31, Jalan Riong, 59100 Kuala Lumpur and cheques should be made out to New Straits Times Press Berhad. On the reverse side of the cheque, please write "NST-BH Malaysian Tsunami Disaster Fund."