KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 4 — With the annual monsoon season just around the corner, the DAP-backed Gabungan Impian Kelantan (GIK) sought to raise RM3.2 million to aid the hundreds of displaced residents whose homes were wrecked by massive flooding in the northeastern state last year.
Hundreds of supporters of all ages, colours and creeds turned up for the “Sounds of Kelantan” concert, which featured the Traditional Malaysian Orchestra from Istana Budaya for a two-hour show in the Kuchai LAma neighbourhood here.
“I must say that I was quite happy because the haze was quite serious. Seeing the haze, I thought many functions tonight would be affected.
Teresa Kok, A. Samad Said and Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli putting the Impian sign on a mock house during the fundraising concert, in Kuchai Lama, Kuala Lumpur October 3, 2015. — Picture by Choo Choy May
“I consider the turnout tonight good,” DAP’s Seputeh MP Teresa Kok told Malay Mail Online after the concert.
Kok said GIK has managed to collect roughly RM1.5 million so far, not counting the collection made last night.
Besides Kok, other notable DAP members in the crowd were national laureate Datuk A. Samad Said and Damansara Utama assemblyman Yeo Bee Yin.
Also present was Dr Hatta Ramli from Parti Amanah Negara, the MP for flood-ravaged Kuala Krai in Kelantan.
The orchestra had performed several traditional and local tunes, including backing solo sape and wood flute performances, and traditional dancers from Istana Budaya.
Popular Malay singer Aishah closed the night to cheers from a significant number of the Malay crowd. Aishah had joined PAS in 2012, but was recently critical of the Islamist party’s new leadership.
GIK, a joint initiative between DAP and several non-governmental organisations (NGOs), will be building 40 new homes for the entire village of Guchil displaced by severe floods that hit the state late last year.
The houses which cost RM50,000 each will be built on five acres of land in Kampung Sungai Mas in Kuala Krai, Kelantan.
Other facilities to be built include a public hall, playground and an aquaponics fish-rearing project for the villagers.
The project will cost RM3.2 million in total.
The Impian Kelantan initiative comes amid criticisms levelled against Putrajaya and the Kelantan state government for moving too slowly in the rebuilding of homes, with Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim telling Parliament on Tuesday that only 33 homes have been built for the 1,900 flood victims so far.
– See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/despite-choking-haze-impian-kelantans-nets-rm1.5m-in-fundraiser-concert#sthash.QF0bYw7A.dpuf