Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia – 25 November, 2011: A group of representatives from the Monsoon Cup set off for Setiu, Terengganu in aid of flood victims affected by the recent flash floods in Kampung Nyatoh on Tuesday, 22^nd November 2011. The delegates included Chairman of Monsoon Cup, Tan Sri Sabbaruddin Chik; CEO of World Match Racing Tour (WMRT), Jim O’Toole; Director of T-Best Events, Datuk Wan Hisham Wan Salleh; Sales Director of WMRT, Matt Strachan; and General Manager of Ri-yaz Heritage Marina Resort and Spa, Abdul Shaheed Yusof.

On reaching the Disaster Relief Centre in Setiu, set up by the Social Welfare Department, Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, the group of delegates were greeted by YB Muhamad Jidin from Setiu Parliament and YB Abdul Halim Jusoh from Adun Permaisuri. The group took time to talk and take photographs with the 15 families affected by the floods. They also gave out t-shirts to the children who happily wore them to show their appreciation.

The 15 families who lost everything during the floods have been staying at the relief centre over the last four days. Food aid has come from the government and well-wishers. Haji Zakaria Ismail, who is in charge of the flood victims said, “The floods arrived at midnight and water started rising by half a foot, every hour. We only managed to save the children but not our belongings. We lost everything to the floods – fridges, beds, cupboards, washing machines.”

As a token of sympathy, the group presented the flood victims with bags of rice and goodie bags containing essentials such as cooking oil, flour, sugar, coffee and sardine tins. Ri-Yaz Heritage Marina Spa & Resort also hosted a small tea session for the 75 adults and children at the relief centre.

Director of T-Best Events, Dato Wan Hisham Wan Salleh said, “While we embrace the monsoon as a source of inspiration for the sailors, we are also sympathetic to the victims of the monsoon. As such we feel obligated to come forward to do whatever we can to ease the burden of the flood victims. This is our sincere contribution from all the supporters of the Monsoon Cup – T-Best Events, WMRT and the sailors.”