PM Transcripts

FOR PRESS: PM No.. 4/ 1971
AUSTRALIAN RELIEF ASSISTANCE FOR MALAYSIA
The Prime Minister of Australia Mr. John Gorton, announced today
that equipment to the value of $ A90, 000 ($ M306, 000) would be provided by
Australia as relief assistance to Malaysia for reconstructioni following the
recent disastrous floods.
Mr. Gorton said the equipment would be in the form of two 100-foot
prefabricated transportable steel Bailey bridges which would be used to help
restore communications in the flooded areas.
The bridges would be supplied immediately by the Australian
Army in Singapore. The Australian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur was in touch
with the Malaysian flood relief authorities to enable urgent arrangements to
be made to move the bridges to the areas where they were required.
While in Singapore for the Prime Ministers' Conference, Mr. Gorton
has had talkcs with the Malaysian Prime Minister, Tun Abdul Razak, about
what Australian assistance might best meet Malaysia's relief needs.
The decision to provide the bridges followed these personal discussions.
In a message to ' Thn Razak on 6 January, Mr. Gorton had expressed
distress at reports of the floods, and had confirmed an immediate offer of
Australian helicopters and Dakota transport aircraft based at Butterworth to
support emergency relief operations.
He asked Tun Razak to let him know if there were other ways in
which Australia might be of assistance.
On 7 January, Tun Razak acknowledged this message welcoming and
expressing appreciation of Mvr. Gorton's offer of help.
In addition to the gift of steel bridges, supplies of blankets for immediate
relief have been provided by the Australian Red Gross Society.
SINGAPORE 17 January 1971