Malaysia's Nanyang Press Group (NPG) on Wednesday handed over a check of 4.8 million ringgit (US$1.5 million), which was donated by the Malaysian public, to help earthquake-hit areas in China.

Nanyang Press Group Executive Chairman Leong Khee Seong handed over the check to Cheng Yonghua, China's ambassador to Malaysia, at the headquarters of its subsidiary Nanyang Siang Pau, one of the leading Chinese-language newspapers in Malaysia.

The strong earthquake, which struck Sichuan Province in southwest China on May 12 this year, caused enormous losses of lives and properties there and the world felt shocked and sad over the disaster, Leong said at a ceremony held for the cheque handover.

The donation from Malaysians in various circles to the earthquake victims was to demonstrate that disaster is ruthless, but Malaysians have love, he said.

Leong noted that the concerted and effective disaster relief efforts made by the Chinese government and the Chinese people showed the great spirit of the Chinese nation.

The swift disaster relief actions taken by the Chinese government also proved the Chinese government's care for people, which touched the hearts of overseas Chinese, he said.

Cheng said that he felt the donations, one after another, from Malaysians were "very heavy" because the donations not only included Malaysians' love and care for the earthquake victims, but also showed the deep feelings between the peoples of Malaysia and China.

On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia, Cheng expressed sincere thanks for the selfless assistance from Malaysians.

On May 14, two days after a devastating earthquake hit Sichuan Province, NPG led to donate 200,000 ringgit (US$62,500) before its subsidiary newspapers, including Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press, launched campaigns to call for Malaysians to donate for the earthquake victims.

So for, the group has handed over a total of 9.2 million ringgit (US$2.9 million) it collected from the Malaysian public to the earthquake victims in China through China's embassy in Malaysia.

(Xinhua News Agency June 12, 2008)