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GRIM DAYS: All that can be seen under the ruins of a primary school in Beichuan county is this foot of a child who was killed by Monday's earthquake. State media reported the death toll could hit 50,000 as hopes to save those who were trapped faded. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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SINGAPORE businessman Oei Hong Leong has made a personal donation of $2 million to help victims of the Sichuan earthquake.
Shocked by the plight of people buried under collapsed buildings, he wants the money spent on earthquake-resistant hospitals and schools.
Several companies have also pledged donations, reflecting the strong business ties between Singapore and Sichuan.
SingTel, which has a subsidiary in Chengdu, is donating $200,000. Great Eastern Life (GE) Assurance and its joint venture firm in China are giving 2 million yuan (S$394,000).
Half of the GE donation will be used to rebuild two schools in Chongqing.
And 12 members of the Singapore-Sichuan Trade and Investment Committee (SSTIC) have pledged more than $900,000 in total for the stricken area.
The committee, established in 1996, has seen Singapore become the third-largest foreign investor in Sichuan, with investments of US$602.03 million (S$830 million), according to the Sichuan Commerce Bureau.
Local firms operate in various sectors, ranging from real estate to food and beverage, logistics and transport, finance, health and IT services.
The committee members involved in the aid initiative are Sembcorp Industries, Richland Group, Surbana Corporation, Wing Tai Holdings, Crestar Education Group, Hwa Hong Corporation, EtonHouse, National Healthcare Group, ABR Holdings, Yanlord Land Group, IMC Pan Asia Alliance and the Institute of Environmental Science and Engineering.
Minister of State for Defence Koo Tsai Kee, who is the SSTIC co-chairman, said: 'This gesture of good will shows the compassion of the Singapore business community and that the ties they have with the province go beyond a pure business relationship.'
Surbana chief executive Tan Thai Hong, who returned from Chengdu yesterday, said that it was too early to say how the disaster would affect the company's operations.
'Within the city centre you hardly see any damage. No shattered glass, no dead bodies, no blood,' he said.
Some firms have also gone beyond providing cash. Richland Group, a homegrown logistics services firm with two units in Chengdu, has lent its trucks to help ferry food and other supplies to the victims.
Many Singapore firms with employees in Chengdu have formed an informal network to help relief efforts.
yanghw@sph.com.sg
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY LEE SU SHYAN AND HE ZONGYING
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