Japan.s Quake : Girl Guides launch fund to help victims of twin disasters

PUTRAJAYA: The Girl Guides Association of Malaysia is spearheading an initiative to lend a hand to the Japanese people struck by tragedies that have moved the global community.

The Prime Minister’s wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor has launched the Malaysian Girl Guides-Maybank Fund for Japan’s tsunami disaster victims with an initial contribution of RM200,000.

Rosmah, who is the association president, said Malaysians too were saddened by the suffering of the victims of the March 11 tsunami in Japan and this was what motivated the Girl Guides to set up the fund.

“I would like to express our (Malaysia’s) deepest sympathy to the people of Japan who have suffered the tragic calamity caused by the devastating earthquake and tsunami,” she said during the launch of the fund at the Prime Minister’s official residence Seri Perdana here yesterday.

Also present were Malaysian Girl Guides Association deputy president and Raja Puan Muda Perak Raja Nor Mahani Raja Shahar Shah, Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia Masahiko Horie, Maybank chief executive officer Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar, Star Publications (M) Bhd group managing director and chief executive officer Datin Linda Ngiam, The Star group chief editor Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai and YTL Corporation executive director Datuk Yeoh Soo Min.

Rosmah commended Maybank, YTL Corporation Bhd, Star Publications and Kian Joo Can Factory for their contributions towards the fund as part of their corporate social responsibility.

“I am sure programmes of this kind will create a corporate culture that gives attention to humanitarian efforts,” she said, adding that the fund’s maiden contributions of RM100,000 each would be from Maybank and YTL Corporation.

Abdul Wahid said this was not the first time Maybank was assisting in such fund-raising efforts.

“We have worked with various media and welfare organisations on similar campaigns in the past following other natural disasters in the region,” he said.

Maybank, Abdul Wahid added, was saddened by the tragedy and “apart from our donation, we are offering our banking channels to enable the public to make their contributions to this Fund. This is very much in line with our mission of humanising financial services.”

In his speech earlier, Horie thanked the Girl Guides for their effort and said the Japanese people were also appreciative of the sympathy, condolences and encouragement offered by Malaysians.

He said those in the areas affected by the tsunami were facing many difficulties due to the shortage of food and clean water as well as blankets and other necessities to cope with the current cold weather.

“Whole towns, cities and districts have been wiped out and we are facing logistical problems in getting the necessary items to the affected people but I believe we will overcome the challenges with the support of efforts like the one conducted by the Girl Guides,” he said.