Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg (centre) greeting Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah at his Raya open house on Monday (March 31). - ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star
KUCHING: Sarawak has not received reports of any Sarawakians affected by the Myanmar earthquake, says Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg.
He added that the state government was ready to provide assistance to any Sarawakian victims of the Friday (March 28) tragedy.
"As of Monday, I understand that no Sarawakians are affected. If there are any, I believe the Malaysian embassy will have the data, and we will contact the Foreign Ministry to bring them back.
"But so far I do not have the data," he told reporters at his Hari Raya open house at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching on Monday.
Abang Johari noted that Malaysia had sent the Special Malaysian Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) to Myanmar to assist in rescue efforts.
The 50-member team arrived in Myanmar on Sunday together with a National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) team and equipment.
Abang Johari also expressed concerns about the rising incidence of natural disasters in the region, including an earthquake off Aceh, Indonesia, and floods in Sarawak.
He said environmental issues, including climate change, should be taken seriously as they contribute to natural disasters.
"This is why Sarawak's policy focuses on environmental sustainability as a way to mitigate climate change," he said.
