Malaysia plays politics with aid

Asia Times ^ | 1/05/2005 | Anil Netto

[worldclass]

Record humanitarian aid might be pouring in for victims of Asia's tsunami disaster, but critics here have accused the Malaysian government of delaying the distribution of badly needed emergency supplies to survivors in Malaysia's coastal areas, northwest of the peninsula. "Some of the relief centers are well stocked with supplies, but they are being closely guarded by the government coalition members and are not being distributed to those in need," the website claimed. "They refuse to distribute anything until a minister ... can find time to personally do so with the television crew and reporters in tow."

[worldclass]

Governments are the same everywhere. The same type of stuff happened after the quake in Nicaragua. And lest we not forget the actions of those with the UN who went in to "assist" people in various conflicts in Africa.

[loreldan]

Australia probably just upped their donation to 1 billion to be sure that at least 100 million actually got to the intended recipients.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Sounds like Cambodia, like Viet Nam, like S. American countries, etc., etc.

[keysguy]

Short of putting the aid directly in the hands of the people....

[Publius6961]

Here we go again...

The least they can do is take names and expose these cockroaches later...

[hoosierham]

Past American aid in many countries has previously been delayed whilst the local authorities removed or repackaged the food to disguise its origin. Can't very well let the uneducated masses see that the evil Americans are the ones providing free food. And then the local crooked pols and their buddies will charge for the food as well. I REALLY wonder WHY we don't insist on DISTRIBUTING the aid;if we can't see that the aid goes to the victims I don't believe we will get "credit" in this world OR the next for the aid.