RIYADH, 22 February 2005 — The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) is to set up an orphanage fund to rehabilitate tsunami victims in Indonesia, Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi told newsmen here.
The premier was addressing reporters at the residence of Malaysian Ambassador Wan Mokhtar Ahmad. Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar was also present.
“The IDB has allocated $140 million for the orphanage project in Indonesia in consideration of the enormous losses incurred by the country due to tsunami,” Badawi said, recalling that 38,000 children were orphaned in Aceh as a result of the Dec. 26 tidal waves. Initially, he said, five big orphanages will be constructed and majority of the children will be taken in for rehabilitation. The whole project will be supervised by the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC).
Elaborating on his talks with Crown Prince Abdullah, Badawi said that an Islamic summit will be held in November in Makkah to straighten the problems of disunity among Muslims. Abdullah told the premier that a committee comprising Muslim theologians and religious leaders would be formed to identify the problems facing the Muslim Ummah and to make preliminary arrangements for this conference.
The proposed summit is expected to chalk out a comprehensive agenda for the OIC to make it a more effective body to serve the world Muslims. “The theme of the conference will be unity of Ummah and the scholars will be asked to present papers on matters affecting the Muslims and how to redress them in the future,” Badawi said. The premier said Abdullah urged him to make preparatory arrangements for the summit in Malaysia’s capacity as president of the OIC.
Commenting on the post-election violence in Iraq, he said: “This is a sorry state of affairs, opposing Muslim troops should come to terms and an amicable settlement should be reached between the warring parties to form a new constitution for a peaceful Iraq.”
He hoped the majority Shiites would give an opportunity for the Sunnis to participate in the making of the constitution which would be a useful document to guide the destiny of Iraq.
