LANGKAWI: Residents affected by the devastating Lekima storm on Friday have been urged to be patient, as the government is doing its best to channel aid to them, said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
The Prime Minister said that Malaysians are lucky, as the country’s location between the Philippines and Indonesia shields it from the vagaries of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The country is also free of active volcanoes and is not bedevilled by massive earthquakes as can be seen in other nations.
“We are quite lucky for not being located in the middle of an ocean, and are shielded from the fierce winds generated by the Indian Ocean, which have to pass through Sumatera before they reach (Malaysia).
“We are also shielded from typhoons generated by the Pacific Ocean, which regularly strike the Philippines annually, leading to loss in lives and property,” he said.
Dr Mahathir was speaking at a Qurban gathering at Masjid Ar Rahman, Kedawang, here.
Last Friday night, torrential rain and winds reaching up to 100 kmph generated by the tail end of Typhoon Lekima struck Langkawi, Perlis, Kedah and Penang, resulting in more than 3,000 residential homes being damaged.
Dr Mahathir said that the government will try to provide relief to those affected to ease their plight, even though it may not be enough to cover their losses.
“While (the aid may not be) enough, we should nevertheless be thankful to the government for still helping, unlike in some countries, where disaster victims are left to their own devices.
“I am reminded of Nepal, which had been struck by an earthquake, destroying the country and which in turn, saw many Nepalese lose their homes... and maybe because their government couldn't afford it, the country was still in a state of shock after the earthquake," he said.
Dr Mahathir said that in Malaysia, the people get aid from the government whenever disasters, whether big or small, strike.
"As such, the people should feel indebted to the government and not eschew the aid they receive," he added.