Extension of Help to Malaysians Affected by Recent Floods
Ministry of Foreign AffairsSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns efforts by the Singapore Government to support Malaysians affected by recent floods, as raised by Dr Wan Rizal. Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan stated the Government contributed US$60,000 to seed the Singapore Red Cross’ fundraising for relief in Malaysia and the Philippines. This supplemented a US$50,000 pledge to the Malaysian Red Crescent for emergency healthcare and the distribution of relief supplies. Additionally, the Singapore Civil Defence Force has placed a disaster relief team on standby for deployment through ASEAN frameworks should assistance be requested. Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan expressed solidarity and affirmed Singapore’s readiness to render further assistance should Malaysia require it.
Transcript
18 Dr Wan Rizal asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether there are efforts by the Government to extend any type of support to help Malaysians affected by the current floods in Malaysia.
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan: In December 2021 and early-January 2022, Malaysia experienced flooding in Kuala Lumpur and nine other states. The floods in Malaysia have resulted in the loss of many lives and widespread destruction of property, causing hardship and suffering to the affected communities.
Singapore stands in solidarity with Malaysia during this difficult time. Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan had written to his counterpart, Dato’ Sri Saifuddin Abdullah, in December 2021 to express condolences and offer Singapore’s assistance. On 22 December 2021, the Singapore Government also contributed US$60,000 as seed money to support the Singapore Red Cross’ public fundraising to aid disaster relief and recovery efforts in Malaysia as well as the Philippines, which had been affected by Typhoon Rai. The Singapore Government’s contribution supplemented the Singapore Red Cross’ pledge of US$50,000 to the Malaysian Red Crescent, which went towards emergency healthcare and the distribution of relief supplies to evacuation centres. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) has also placed a disaster relief team on standby for deployment, should there be requests for support from our ASEAN counterparts through ASEAN frameworks. We stand ready to provide any further assistance that we can render should Malaysia require it.