A FUND has been launched to help the Singaporean families of three breadwinners who died in the Sabah earthquake.
Set up in response to requests from the public, it will provide financial support to the families of the late Tanjong Katong Primary School (TKPS) teachers Mohammad Ghazi Mohamed and Terrence Loo, and Camp Challenge instructor Muhammad Daanish Amran, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said yesterday.
Mr Ghazi, 35, is survived by his wife Khalidal Huda Sukaimi, a teacher at East View Secondary School, and three children, the youngest just a year old. The family is expecting a fourth child.
Mr Loo, 29, leaves behind his parents and elder sister, while Mr Daanish, 22, is survived by his parents and two younger siblings.
The fund will also help rebuild the lives of the mountain guides and trainers whose livelihoods were affected by the quake, including trainers from Mountain Torq that operates the Via Ferrata trail used by the TKPS group.
MOE will be in charge of collecting donations, which will be administered by philanthropic organisation Temasek Foundation. A panel of representatives picked by both organisations will oversee how the money is used.
Mountain Torq marketing director Quek I-Gek said: "We are grateful for all the help given to us. Most of our trainers live at the foothills of the mountain and some of their homes have been damaged. The fund would help pay for repairs and, at the same time, provide for their families."
Ms Quek added that the fund will provide financial aid for the families of its trainers Valerian Joannes and Ricky Masirin, who died guiding the TKPS pupils.
Donations can be made via cheque from now until July 22. Cheques should be made payable to the "Sabah Earthquake Fund" and sent to: Ministry of Education, 1 North Buona Vista Drive, MOE Building #09-52, Singapore 138675 (Attn: Sabah Earthquake Fund). To give in cash, visit the customer service centre at the MOE Building's Podium Block.
For more information on the fund, visit www.moe.gov.sg/sabahearthquakefund
