SM Lee receives award from Indonesian university over 2004 tsunami relief efforts
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South East District Mayor Mohd Fahmi Aliman (right), representing Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, receiving the award from Ar-Raniry State Islamic University rector Mujiburrahma on Dec 23.
PHOTO: LEE HSIEN LOONG/FACEBOOK
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SINGAPORE – Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong has received a lifetime award from a university in Indonesia in recognition of Singapore’s contribution to relief efforts for the 2004 tsunami.
Ar-Raniry State Islamic University in Banda Aceh on Dec 23 presented the Ar-Raniry Lifetime award to SM Lee, who was represented by South East District Mayor Mohd Fahmi Aliman.
The award was presented at the Aceh International Forum 2024, which is being held from Dec 23 to 25 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the tragedy.
An Indian Ocean tsunami struck Indonesia’s Sumatra island on Dec 26, 2004
The deadly wave, triggered by a 9.1-magnitude earthquake, killed about 230,000 people along the coasts of more than a dozen countries, including India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand, making it one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history.
More than half of the dead were in Aceh, the province on Sumatra’s northern tip that was nearest to the powerful quake’s epicentre.
The Aceh forum was attended by representatives from Morocco, Turkey, the US, Japan, Malaysia, Germany and Singapore.
Representatives from humanitarian institutions and agencies such as the Turkish Red Crescent, Islamic Relief and UN children’s agency Unicef were also present.
In a Facebook post on Dec 24, SM Lee said: “I am deeply moved and honoured to accept the award, which recognises Singapore’s contributions to the relief efforts after the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami 20 years ago.”
He added that the tsunami was one of the worst in history and caused “enormous devastation and anguish to the people of Aceh”.
In close partnership with the Indonesian government, Singapore extended assistance and joined in the international humanitarian efforts.
SM Lee said: “I will never forget my visit to Aceh in the aftermath of the tsunami, witnessing the devastation and feeling the tragic loss of so many lives.
“In the 20 years since, Aceh has made great strides in its recovery, and emerged as a vibrant region full of promise.”
