An Asean ministerial meeting in Burma last month is said to have rejected a proposal for littoral member states to instal early warning system for earthquakes and tsunamis, according to sources.

The proposal was said to have been brought up by a member state but the majority of member states considered it unnecessary as the possibility of a tsunami-like disaster occurring in the region was extremely remote.

The last big-scale tsunami was reported in Honolulu at the turn of the last century during which thousands of people died.

An official who attended the Rangoon meeting said Asean was generally complacent thinking such a possibility was extremely remote.

Thailand to go ahead

Meanwhile, Thailand, Malaysia's neighbour whose beach resorts in Phuket and the surrounding areas have been hard hit by the earthquake-triggered tsunami on Boxing Day, has already said it is going ahead to instal an early warning system on its land "whether or not others are willing to pay for it."

Thailand has suffered more than 8,000 loss of lives and untold damages to properties, mainly beach hotels, villages and coastal roads.

Meanwhile, a Penang-born university lecturer told malaysiakini in Kuching today that he was appalled at the slow pace in which relief aid was getting to Malaysian victims in Penang.

Dr Andrew Aeria who is based in Kuching and had spent the Christmas and New Year holidays with his mother in Penang also expressed concern that initial aid appeared to have been given out selectively to the victims.

This had prompted other organisations to come forward to give immediate relief aid to all victims irrespective of race and religion.