The tsunami-hit areas in Malaysia have been recovering remarkably since the tidal wave struck the west coast of the country one month ago.

The tsunami, triggered by a massive earthquake in Indian Ocean near Indonesian island of Sumatra on Dec. 26, hit several states including Perlis, Penang and Kedah on Malaysian west coast, claiming 68 people and destroying hundreds of houses in the southeast country.

Soon after the disaster, the government worked out relief and reconstruction plan to assist the victims.

The Malaysian public responded overwhelmingly with donations of cash, food, clothes and medicine. A total of 80 million ringgit (US$21.05 million) have been so far collected in the country since the Dec. 26 disaster.

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said 38.8 million ringgit (US$10.21 million) of the total donations had been handed over to the National Disaster Relief Fund for distribution to survivors of the tsunami.

About 10 million ringgit (US$2.63 million) in cash aid was given to the victims since the day of the disaster. Other forms of assistance to help survivors rebuild houses and repair boats that had been damaged or destroyed is being distributed.

Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad (SPN), the national housing corporation, has decided to build 1,066 houses on permanent sites -- 900 in Penang, 126 in Kota Kuala Muda, Kedah, and 40 in Langkawi-- for the disaster victims at a cost of 62 million ringgit (US$16.13 million). SPN will also repair 523 damaged houses in Kedah and Penang.

The victims will only have to pay one-third of the estimated cost of 50,000 ringgit (US$13,157) per unit. Another one-third will be subsidized by the government and the remaining will be borne by the National Disaster Relief Fund.

For fishermen affected by the tsunami, the government approved aid from the National Disaster Relief Fund for them to replace their boats so that they would not be saddled with huge repayment bills.

Between 1,000 ringgit (US$263) to 3,000 ringgit (US$789) cash aid for damaged or destroyed small fishing boats is being made to victims. Repairs of damaged fishing boats are expected to be completed by March.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management and Relief Committee advised relatives of people missing in the disaster, whether in the country or overseas, to lodge a police report.

A person missing in the country, about whom a police report had been lodged and confirmed by the district officer, would be deemed to have died and the next-of-kin would be eligible for government aid of 20,000 ringgit (US$5,263).

It is understood that 12 Malaysians were still missing, six of them in the country and the rest abroad.

In another development, Malaysia, which itself suffered extensive damage caused by the giant waves, was among the first nations to respond to the unprecedented catastrophe in Aceh, the Indonesian province.

Malaysian rescue and medical teams were sent to provide emergency relief in Aceh, about 16 hours after the disaster struck. Now the country is continuous to send medical and food relief to the affected area.

Until now, personnel from the Malaysian armed forces, police and other uniformed units and ordinary Malaysians continue to volunteer their services in Aceh.

Malaysia also assisted the World Food Program by contributing its air force aircraft to ferry supplies and personnel and letting Subang air base be used as the hub in the biggest humanitarian relief operation ever mounted.

Malaysia has agreed to allow donor countries to use its airports as transit bases to send humanitarian aid for victims of tsunami catastrophe in Acheh.
 
(Xinhua News Agency January 27, 2005)