MALAYSIA is offering assistance in search and rescue (SAR) operations as well as for rehabilitation for victims following the earthquake in West Nusa Tenggara and Lombok today.

Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the government would wait for feedback from the Indonesian government regarding the forms of assistance they needed and that National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) had been placed on standby.

“So far, there has been no request (for SAR or rehabilitation aid) from the Indonesian side, but we are ready to offer such assistance,” she told a press conference after attending a tea party with the PKR machinery for the Sungai Kandis state by-election today.

Also present was the PKR candidate for the by-election, Mohd Zawawi Ahmad Mughni.

Dr Wan Azizah said this in commenting on the 6.4 magnitude earthquake that jolted West Nusa Tenggara and Lombok this morning, in which Malaysian Siti Nur Ismawida Ismail, 30, was also killed.

The victim was reportedly with 17 other Malaysians participating in a climbing mission to Mt Rinjani, an active volcano in East Lombok, when the earthquake struck.

According to East Lombok police chief, M. Eka Fahurrahman, Siti Nur Ismawida died when the walls of a building collapsed on her.

“A total of 18 Malaysians were on a mission to climb Mount Rinjani, six have been injured while the others are safe,” he said.

Dr Wan Azizah, who is also PKR president, also said Siti Nur Ismawida was a PKR member from Desa Pandan, Kuala Lumpur.

In another development, the deputy prime minister stated that the government had sent 22 officials to carry out a massive flood-relief and humanitarian mission in Laos due to the recent tropical storm Son Tinh.

Swathes of Laos have been flooded after an under-construction hydropower dam collapsed

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had expressed concern about the earthquake that has claimed 14 lives, including Siti Nur Ismawida.

“Tun (Dr Mahathir) has instructed to help the Malaysians and to keep an eye on the situation, if necessary, to extend aid to Indonesia,” Saifuddin told Bernama when met at the Perdana Leadership Foundation today.

The Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta has activated the operations room following the earthquake and Malaysians in Lombok who need consular assistance can contact the embassy via email [email protected]/ [email protected] or phone number +62215224947 and + 6281380813036 (whatsapp).

The Foreign Ministry (Wisma Putra) in a statement urged Malaysians to remain calm and follow local news for the latest developments. – Bernama, July 29, 2018.