KUALA LUMPUR, July 16 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Government will extend
assistance to Malaysian students affected by the fire that razed the 56-unit
South Meadow Apartment in Ames city, Iowa, United States.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the government sympathised
with the tragedy that befell 18 Malaysian students during the 6am fire.
"With children of my own, I fully understand the concern of parents and
I''m thankful to God that all the Malaysian students are safe.
"In view of the coming Ramadan, the government will extend its assistance to
the affected students to ensure they can continue their studies without
hindrance," he told Bernama here tonight.
As a majority of the students are the Public Service Department (PSD) and
Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) scholars, the Prime Minister said these agencies
would be directly responsible for the students'' welfare, including sorting out
new accommodation and other needs.
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NAJIB-ASSISTANCE 2 (LAST) KUALA LUMPUR
He said the government would ask the Malaysian Special Envoy to the United
States, Datuk Seri Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis, to coordinate the necessary assistance
for the affected students.
"Datuk Seri Jamaluddin will also look into coordinating assistance to the
sole private student. I assure the parents that the government will do all that
is necessary to assist the affected students," stressed the Prime Minister.
Three Malaysian students -- Mohamad Khairi Zulkarnian, Mohd Aminuddin Hamid
and Mohd Khairi Ismail -- all 21, and second-year engineering students at Iowa
State University, ran out of their apartment unit with only their wallets and
mobile phones, in the nick of time to escape the raging fire.
Fourteen other Malaysian students staying in the apartment were either back
home on vacation or were on a tour in the United States.
Iowa State Daily.com reported that about 100 people living in the 56 units
of the South Meadow Apartments were displaced, but no one was injured or
perished in the fire.
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