Jakarta, (ANTARA News) - The government and people of Brunei Darussalam managed to collect BND533,189.55 (around 5.5 billion rupiah) for victims of the tsunami and earthquake in Central Sulawesi.



This was announced by the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports and Minister of Religion of Brunei Darussalam at the official closing ceremony of the "Sulawesi Disaster Humanitarian Tube (TKBS)" fund-raising ceremony on January 30, 2019, based on a written statement from the Indonesian Embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan on Friday.



The funds collected are contributions from various government, military, banking, business, university, and community groups through special Sulawesi disaster charity boxes spread across Brunei Darussalam.



About 2.8 billion rupiah (BND272,000) of the funds have been submitted to the ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Center) for the construction of a temporary shelter for survivors.



The handover ceremony was carried out by the Brunei Darussalam Ambassador in Jakarta, Brigadier General (Ret.) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Yussof, to the AHA Center on February 1, 2019, witnessed by the ASEAN Secretary General and BNPB representatives.



The remaining funds will be used for the construction of mosques and other infrastructure in areas affected by the Sulawesi disaster.



"This should be appreciated together as a form of friendly state solidarity and solid friendship between the two countries," said the Indonesian Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Sujatmiko regarding the initiative of the Brunei Government.



The TKBS program received a positive response from various parties in Brunei Darussalam.



Since it opened on October 9, 2018, until January 7, 2019, various activities have been carried out to raise funds, including golf tournaments, running competitions and casual bikes, where the Indonesian Embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan participated in a number of activities.



Official Sulawesi special disaster charity boxes are also placed at various public places (banks, shopping complexes, government offices, mosques, surau, and places of worship) in all regions of Brunei Darussalam.



As a friendly country, Brunei Darussalam always provides support to Indonesia in the event of a disaster. Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah also immediately distributed aid during the 2005 Aceh tsunami.

Editing by Eliswan Azly

Reporter: Antara
Editor: Suharto
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