Padang to donate 10 speedboats

PADANG: Ten speedboats worth Rp 500 million will be donated by the Padang administration to Meulaboh fishermen.

Padang Mayor Fauzi Bahar said the boats would temporarily carry aid from warships to the victims in Meulaboh, which was badly hit by the tsunami.

"Speedboats are badly needed there because ships cannot dock at Meulaboh's damaged wharf. The boats will then be given to the local administration to be donated to fishermen who no longer have fishing boats," he said.

The boats were not purchased using city funds but were donated by local businessmen, he said. -- JP