Malaysia launches fund to help people in China's snowstorm-hit areas

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb.6 (Xinhua) -- The Malaysian government launched a fund here on Wednesday to raise money from the public to help relieve the burden of those people affected in snowstorm-stricken areas of China.

Some areas of China were hit by snowstorms which had caused casualties and severe property losses, Malaysia's Deputy Information Minister Chia Kwang Chye said when launching the "China Disaster Fund".

Millions of people, mostly in a rush to return to their home villages for the Spring Festival, were affected by the snow havoc in some areas in central and southern China, when transport links and electricity supplies were disrupted, he said.

Malaysia was highly concerned about the natural disaster, thus acted immediately to extend assistance to help relieve the burden of those people affected, he said.

Chia himself led to donate 3,000 ringgit (909 U.S.dollars) in cheque and 150 ringgit (45.4 dollars) in cash to the fund after its launching.

Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur Tower Sdn Bhd followed Chia to donate 10,000 ringgit (3,030 U.S.dollars) and Hai'O Enterprise Berhad Managing Director Tan Kai Hee also donated 100,000 ringgit (30,303U.S.dollars).

Earlier on Tuesday, Tan already donated 200,000 ringgit (60,606U.S.dollars) to the snowstorm-hit areas of China through Chinese Embassy in Malaysia.

Malaysia's national broadcasting and television services RTM and Sin Chew Media Corporation Bhd, which are in charge of raising money from the public for the fund, urged people to donate generously to help relieve the suffering of people in snowstorm-hit areas in China.