YAN: Rosli Mohamad watched from his old wooden house as a bulldozer scraped away mud from the compound of his house after a flood.

       Yet, amid the damage and mess, the army retiree wore a smile and beamed with pride when the Jalur Gemilang that he had put up earlier, still fluttered in the wind.

       “I decorated the house and compound with the Jalur Gemilang before the flood hit the village. Luckily, the flags were not swept away or destroyed,” he told Bernama.

       Residents of Jalan Masjid, here, were hit by a flood following a waterhead phenomenon on Gunung Jerai on Aug 18.

       Rosli said he was glad that the flood did not wash away or damage the flags.

       “I have been doing this every year; decorating my house and compound with the Jalur Gemilang for the National Month, never expecting a flood,” he said.

       The flood, he said, caused some damage to his house, furniture, electrical appliances and other household items.

       “We should all be grateful for what we have now and no matter what the situation.

       “Even though we have been struck by a disaster like this, it is no excuse not to fly the Jalur Gemilang, especially for the National Day celebration,” he said.

       Rosli, who is a school gardener, said he and his family are grateful to various quarters for the assistance provided to them and other residents.

       Meanwhile, Principal Research Fellow at the Institute of Ethnic Studies, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Prof Datuk Dr Teo Kok Seong, said Rosli’s spirit of patriotism should be emulated by other Malaysians.

       “His unwavering spirit of patriotism to celebrate National Day, despite being affected by the tragedy, is a clear display of his gratitude for the country’s peace, and what he is enjoying as a result of the country’s independence.

       “The tragedy (flood) ought to make people more appreciative of what they have and are able to enjoy.

       “This is a sign of gratitude and the spirit of waving the flag during the pandemic and despite the disaster should be emulated by all parties.

       “Even though some people say that to show one’s love for the country does not necessarily mean flying the Jalur Gemilang, but doing it is a way to express our patriotic spirit,” he added.