'Kampung Keling' residents have finally received some relief in the form of cash and food supplies, following last Sunday's tsunami which wreaked havoc in parts of Penang.

The village in Tanjung Tokong, which Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi visited last Thursday, was badly damaged by a series of killer waves that struck suddenly at about 1.30pm.

Irate villagers had initially complained about unsympathetic treatment in the aftermath, claiming that they had been ostracised by the authorities, who had allegedly branded their settlement a 'gangster village'.

One resident, Mansor Hussain, said when contacted today that he had received RM500 from the Social Welfare Department.

"I received RM200 from the pejabat zakat (Muslim tithes office) a few days ago. I also received food supplies from both government and non-governmental organisations," he said.

Mansor, who said he had lost about RM8,000 worth of electrical goods and other possessions in the catastrophe, noted that the compensation received would also have to cover the needs of his wife and two school-going sons.

Another villager, who requested anonymity, said he was disappointed that survivors and other victims have not received counselling for their trauma.

"Community leaders should mobilise some form of moral support for us," he said.

Relief efforts

Jalan Gajah Umno division head Azli Osman said clothes and food were being collected from within the affected villages and surrounding areas as part of self-mobilisation efforts.

"Humanitarian groups are also helping. We are doing as much as we can to distribute the rations as equally as possible," he said.

The villagers had praised the quick response and aid they received from the Buddhist Tzu Chi Merit Society, Malaysia, the day after the tsunami.

The government has announced that it will channel aid to victims in three stages. This will include disbursement of RM200 to those injured, RM500 to evacuees and RM1,000 to families of those who died.

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who is also chairperson of the National Disaster Management and Relief Committee, was reported to have said the government will channel RM2,000 for those whose houses were damaged and RM5,000 where houses were destroyed.

Boat owners will receive RM1,000 for damage to small craft and RM3,000 for bigger vessels.

Hundreds have been affected by the impact of the tsunami along parts of the north- west coast of Malaysia, following a seabed earthquake that measured 9.0 on the Richter scale, off the coast of Sumatra in Indonesia.

To date, the tsunami has claimed up to 68 Malaysian lives and has left 299 injured. The death toll in Asia and Africa currently stands close to 155,000, with Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand the worst-hit countries.