http://dapmalaysia.org  

DAP calls for immediate aids to victims affected by the country's worst natural disaster - the tsunami tidal waves    Press Statement by Chow Kon Yeow (Petaling Jaya,  Monday): The DAP Penang want to extend condolences to bereaved families of victims affected by the December 26 tsunami tidal waves. In Penang, the livelihood of hundreds of fishermen in Balik Pulau and the Tanjong Bungah to Teluk Bahang coastal areas are seriously affected by the tidal waves which destroyed houses, fishing boats and equipments. We call for immediate government aids to these victims and the implementation of safety measures to protect lives and properties. The Meteorological Services Department should be able to provide sufficient warning to the public to flee to safety. It is regrettable that in this instance, the Department was unable to anticipate and to provide necessary warning against the tidal waves that happened a few hours after the severe earthquake in Sumatra. If the Department were able to provide early warning, many lives in Penang would have been saved. The country is unprepared for this kind of natural disaster and we should learn from this bitter experience. Much need to be done to upgrade our Meteorological Department to ensure that it can do more than just announcing what had happened but also to provide accurate and early warning to the people to face any natural disaster. (27/12/2004) * Chow Kon Yeow, DAP Penang Chairman and Member of Parliament for Tanjong