| Lyna Mohamad |
FOLLOWING the consent of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, to the establishment of a Humanitarian Fund for Sulawesi Disaster, local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are setting up funds towards the initiative in support of His Majesty’s titah.
While mobile providers DST Communications Sdn Bhd and Progresif Cellular Sdn Bhd initiated the donations through SMS, Sumbangsih Mulia in Beribi launched its Sulawesi Disaster Humanitarian Fund at its premises yesterday.
The launching started with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah by Sumbangsih Mulia General Manager Haji Mansor bin Haji Mohammad Yassin followed by Sumbangsih Mulia Chairman Pehin Kapitan Lela Diraja Dato Paduka Goh King Chin leading the list of donors to the fund followed with management of the building and stall operators.
Pehin Kapitan Lela Diraja Dato Paduka Goh King Chin, who initiated the setting up of the humanitarian fund, said that as neighbours in the region, it is our humanitarian sense to help natural disaster victims regardless of country, race or religion and help ease the burden of the country affected, particularly its people.
“I call on Sumbangsih Mulia patrons to come in crowds and help raise the humanitarian fund while they are savouring the delicacies offered by the stall operators there as part of our humanity responsibilities to fellow human beings. So let us all come together in the spirit of brotherhood to help those affected victims,” he said.
He also expressed hopes that more local NGOs will come forward to initiate humanitarian initiatives in whatever form and be part of the relief assistance that the country is engaged in.
Haji Mansor, meanwhile, said that members of the public can donate to help ease the suffering of survivors in the recent earthquake and tsunami disasters that struck Sulawesi, Indonesia.
The fund will be displayed at the centre area of the eating hall of Sumbangsih Mulia until January 6, 2019.
He added that they have put up the fund at a strategic spot visible to visitors and he also hoped that members of the public will make their donations and help raise the fund throughout the period.
Hundreds were killed when a powerful quake sent a tsunami barreling into the Indonesian island of Sulawesi on September 28, with hundreds badly injured and rescuers scrambling to reach the stricken region.
Home to around 350,000 people, the tsunami was triggered by a strong quake that brought down buildings and sent locals fleeing for higher ground as a churning wall of water crashed into Palu, where there were widespread power blackouts.