JOHOR BAHARU, July 21 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Muslim companies and
non-governmental organisations (NGO) have been asked assist Muslims in Sri Lanka
who are living in poverty following the civil war which recently ended in the
South Asian country.
National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCIM) secretary-general Datuk
Syed Hussien Alhabshee said about 20,000 Muslims in northern Sri Lanka were
living in poverty without any form of housing.
He was told of the Sri Lankan Muslims'' plight by its Minister of Industry
and Trade Risyad Bathiuddin during a recent visit.
According to Syed Hussien, Risyad who is a Muslim from Jaffna had requested
the Malaysian government and NGO to help Sri Lankan Muslims especially in
providing basic housing.
Jaffna which is located in the north of Sri Lanka was one of the areas badly
hit by the war between Sri Lanka and the Tamil Eelam guerrillas.
-- MORE
SRI LANKA-MUSLIM 2 (LAST) JOHOR BAHARU
An NCCIM delegation visited the south Asian country known for its tea to
look for business opportunities for Malaysian companies.
"He was appealing to the government, companies and NGOs to come forward to
rebuild the lives of the Muslims," he told Bernama in an interview recently.
According to him, interested Malaysian parties could be involved in building
1,000 houses, each with an area of 500 sq ft (46.5 sq meter) costing RM3,000.
-- BERNAMA
MHI CHW AO