Sumantri - Care to community - Tsunami Aceh

Care to community - Tsunami Aceh from file of Borneo Bulletin by Sumantri

Bandar Seribegawan. 10 January 2005. Relatives Of Aceh Tsunami Victims Share Their Grief By Huraizah Ahmad
Bandar Seri Begawan - Several representatives from the Sheraton Utama Hotel recently visited the `Kerabat Nusantara' - an Indonesian-based community - who has family members involved in the tsunami disaster.
Mr Sumantri Endang, Executive Housekeeper of the hotel, said the objective of the visit was to show sympathy and concern towards the Aceh communities working in the country and to discuss several issues relating to fund-raising activities to help the Aceh community in Indonesia.
Also present at the event was Ak Shamaizar Shadan, the PR and Sales Executive of the hotel; Ms Jenny Lee, UNICEF representative and Front Office Assistant Manager; and, Mr Robert Hombria, from the F&B department of the hotel.
Present to welcome the group during the visit at the residence of Ustaz H. Abd Kadir Alhamidy was the president of 'Kerabat Nusantara', Dr Muhammad Nabil.
Also present at the event was Mr Yusbar Djamil, the Ambassador of Indonesia to Brunei Darussalam, who took the opportunity to provide moral support and share their grievances.
Several Indonesians who also attended the event have also lost several family members to the tsunami disaster in Aceh.
Yusnita, an Indonesian married to a local, told the sad story of how she lost her relatives in Aceh to the disaster.
Her brother was the sole survivor in her family and she would occasionally contact him whenever possible through the telephone.
Another Indonesian, Istarni, who was lucky to be spared from the tragedy, said that he himself had lost a majority of close relatives back home.
"It is a sad time for everyone and it is difficult to go back home with families and relatives still missing in the disaster," Istarni said.
According to Dr Muhammad Nabil, president of 'Kerabat Nusantara', the association has planned several activities to help raise money to assist those affected by the tsunami tragedy in Aceh.
"A gathering for the Indonesian community residing in Brunei will be held on Jan 16 where participants can take part in activities organised to raise donation for this charitable cause," he said.
Sheraton Utama Hotel has also planned a series of charity events to raise money for the Tsunami Disaster Relief Fund, including a charity dinner to be held on Jan 29 at the Mutiara Ballroom of the hotel. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin