29/07/2008 (NST Online), PUTRAJAYA - Members of the palm oil industry have so far donated RM1.75 million to the victims of China's Sichuan Province earthquake which happened in May.

The latest donation of RM150,000 from Sime Darby, Boustead Plantation Bhd, the Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Board, Perlating-Jernih Plantation Sdn Bhd, Asia Oil Palm Sdn Bhd, Tradewind Plantation Bhd and Buluh Akar Holdings Sdn Bhd was handed over to Chinese ambassador Chen Yong Hua on Thursday.

The donation was presented to Chen by Sime Darby plantations chief Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid, in the presence of Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Peter Chin.

Following the May 12 earthquake, IOI, KL Kepong and Sime Darby had donated RM1.6 million.

Chen said official government figures put the number of deaths at 69,197, injured at 374,176 and the missing at 18,222.

Last year, China was the largest importer of Malaysia's palm oil and palm oil products.

It accounts for 12.6 per cent of Malaysia's global exports of palm oil and its products.