No Malaysians involved in london riot, says Anifah Aman

KOTA KINABALU - No Malaysian citizens were involved in the London riot that erupted over the weekend, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman.

In fact, no Malaysians were in the vicinity, he said.

"I received a report from our High Commissioner there, Datuk Zakaria Sulong, that our citizens, especially students, were on holiday.

"Most have returned home (to Malaysia), but we have advised Malaysians in areas nearby not to go to that specific area," he told reporters after his minstry's breaking-of-fast function, here, Monday night.

A smashing and looting rampage broke out on Saturday at Tottenham in North London after a peaceful demonstration over the death of its local 29-year-old Mark Duggan, a black man, who was shot by police two days earlier.

However, Anifah said, it was still safe to travel to Britain, but he advised Malaysians to stay away from Tottenham, an area with high unemployment rate and racial issues, for the time being.

Meanwhile, Malaysia will be working out an effective solution with members of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) on how to help Somalia deal with its hunger crisis.

Anifah said the government would also be playing its own part to help the current emergency situation in the civil war-stricken African country.

"Usually, Malaysia will send necessities like food, medicine, clothing and cash. But we also need to consider the logistics of dispatching aid as Somalia is very far away," he said.

- Bernama