ASSISTANCE GIVEN TO INDONESIA AFTER BALI INCIDENT

Ms Braema Mathiaparanam asked the Prime Minister whether any assistance was offered, eg, medical aid, refrigeration facilities or airlifts, to the people in Indonesia during the recent Bali disaster and, if no such gestures were made, what were the reasons.

Mr Raymond Lim Siang Keat (for the Prime Minister): Sir, the Singapore Government did offer assistance to the Indonesian Government following the tragic events in Bali. Our Ambassador in Jakarta did approach both the Indonesian Co-ordinating Minister for Social Welfare Yusuf Kalla and Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda to make these offers. The Indonesian leaders expressed appreciation for our offer but replied that the situation was under control.

Let me add that, working closely with our Embassy in Jakarta, the Singapore Association in Indonesia (SAI) and the Singapore Women's Group (SWG) raised Rp 163 million (S$32,000) at its annual Charity Ball for the hospitals in Bali that have worked tirelessly on the ground to treat the victims. The guest at the ball was Her Excellency Ibu Herawati, wife of Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda, and she helped raise a significant portion of the proceeds for the Bali victims by her own impromptu song performance. Furthermore, Singaporeans spontaneously found ways to extend help to those in need. Gleneagles Hospital sent a five-member medical team to Bali to offer medical assistance and supplies. The team treated 30 Indonesian patients, including 20 burn victims, during their stay in Bali. This team was replaced by a six-member medical relief team from Singapore Red Cross. Other Singaporeans also chipped in to raise funds. As you would have read in the Straits Times, a Bali-based Singaporean couple Shaharin Abas Koh and Joyce Tan collected over S$3,000 for the Bali victims by sending out e-mail messages and SMS messages to friends and relatives.

The efforts of these Singaporeans were recognised last week by the Jakarta Post, an Indonesian newspaper. In an editorial on 23rd October 2002 entitled "Thank You", the paper extended, and I quote, "deepest gratitude for what Singaporeans have done for Indonesians, on a voluntary basis".

As this latest tragedy in Bali - for the victims of all nationalities - has shown, it is not always the Government that has to initiate voluntary aid missions abroad. Singaporeans will spontaneously give generously of their time, expertise and money when there are others in need. Their voluntary efforts have helped to further strengthen the good people-to-people ties between the two countries.