Speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo at the Groundbreaking Ceremony of the Meulaboh Concrete Pier, Aceh on 23 June 2005

Your Excellency Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, Director, Badan Pelaksana Rehabilitasi dan Rekonstruksi (BRR), Indonesia
Your Excellency Azwar Abu Barker, Acting Governor of Aceh
Your Excellency Nasruddin, Bupati of West Aceh
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen

I am delighted to join all of you this morning for the ground-breaking ceremony to construct the Meulaboh concrete pier. This project has received the strong support of our partners - Pak Kuntoro, Pak Azwar, Pak Nasruddin and their officials, the Indonesian Red Cross, and the Government of Indonesia. We have established a good working relationship with Pak Kuntoro and his colleagues at the Badan Pelaksana Rehabilitasi dan Rekonstruksi (BRR). They have been very responsive and set up the "one-stop centre" to get this concrete pier project started quickly. We look forward to continuing our positive collaboration to implement this project and other reconstruction projects, for the benefit of the people of Aceh.

Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen

No one could have been prepared for the Tsunami disaster on 26 December 2004 and the series of earthquakes that occurred soon after. When Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong visited Banda Aceh and Meulaboh on 4 January 2005, he was overwhelmed by the extent of the devastation. Seeing the images on television, Singaporeans were shocked. Our hearts went out to the Acehnese people as they struggled to come to put their lives together again.

Nearly six months after the tragedy, the people of Aceh are steadily rebuilding their lives and communities. In the newspapers earlier this week, I saw photos of Lampuk, a village in the northern part of Banda Aceh. It was completely flattened by the tsunami with nothing left standing. There is now a cement factory there, and reconstruction is under way. On the way here, passing through Meulaboh town, I saw that shops were open and restaurants were doing business. These are all signs that the people of Aceh are determined to overcome all difficulties and look to the future with hope. It is wonderful to see the spirit and resilience of the Indonesian people in the way you have responded to this enormous crisis.

Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

As a close friend and neighbour, we in Singapore have tried to do what we could within our limitations to contribute to the relief and reconstruction efforts in Aceh. During the emergency relief phase, the Singapore Armed Forces worked closely with the TNI to bring critically needed medical care and emergency supplies to the people in Aceh. Ordinary Singaporeans responded in an unprecedented way.

At the Special ASEAN Leaders' Summit (6 January 2005) hosted by President Yudhoyono in Jakarta, Prime Minister Lee pledged S$16.5 million to the Special fund for the relief and reconstruction of Tsunami-affected countries, in addition to the S$40 million Singapore spent on relief operations in Indonesia. Separately, Singaporeans from all walks of life contributed more than S$85 million to the Red Cross and other Singapore organisations.

Because of our early involvement and the intensive reportage, the people of Singapore have a special affection for the people of Meulaboh. Our SAF contingent was among the first to arrive in Meulaboh. They were touched to be described as "Sons of Meulaboh". I am honoured to take part in this groundbreaking ceremony to mark the launch of the first of the reconstruction projects which Singapore will be involved in. The Singapore Government will be partnering the Singapore Red Cross and Temasek Holdings on this project. This 175-metre long pier project will be completed by February 2006 and will cost almost S$7 million. The new reinforced concrete pier will replace the damaged Dermaga Ferry Jetty as a key entry point for essential supplies for the people of Meulaboh. It will help to facilitate the recovery of Meulaboh and the region around it.

Also as part of the Memorandum of Understanding between Singapore and Indonesia that will be signed today, Singapore will undertake to refurbish the 80-bed Meulaboh General Hospital. The Meulaboh hospital is the only secondary healthcare institution left operational after the disaster. The Singapore Government, along with the Singapore Red Cross and Temasek Holdings, are committed to the refurbishment of Meulaboh's main hospital and will also be offering programmes to train its personnel.

Aside from the Singapore Government's efforts, NGOs and ordinary Singaporeans, have also done their part to contribute to efforts in Aceh. Let me just highlight some examples. The Singapore Red Cross has signed a MOU with the Indonesian authorities to build a kindergarten as well as a maternity clinic in Meulaboh. Mercy Relief has also engaged in several school, orphanage and housing projects including the upgrading of facilities in the Muhammadiyah Secondary School and the Panti Asuhan orphanage. More than 50 employees in KK Women's and Children's Hospital also volunteered for stints at a private institution called Fakina on the outskirts of Aceh. Volunteers from all segments of society, from property executives to financial advisors signed up with Singapore humanitarian groups Mercy Relief and YMCA, eager to offer their services in the affected regions.

I was personally heartened when one of my grassroot leaders from Singapore Abdul Aziz bin Abu Talib set up in Meulaboh an orphanage - the Pondok Pesantran Serambi Mekkah - for orphans of the tsunami. He has made a commitment to fund the education, housing and meals of 60 orphans aged between 7-12. I plan to visit this Pondok later this afternoon.

Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Singapore and Indonesia have a long history of working closely together for the mutual benefit of our peoples and that of our region. The tsunami and earthquake tragedies have only fortified these links and brought our two countries even closer together.

The indomitable spirit of the Indonesian people has shone through these challenging circumstances. The people of Singapore salute your courage and your resilience. Although the recovery and reconstruction will take several years, we have no doubts that you will succeed.

Thank you.
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