PETALING JAYA: Despite putting in countless hours to help flood victims, many kind souls are still willing to lend a helping hand to rebuild lives including when the second wave strikes.
“Just voice out. We will help. You are not alone,” said Hope Selangor co-founder Prema Thiyagu.
With a teams of volunteers helping flood victims to clean their homes, she said “the need is still there” as the aftermath of the floods had been difficult for people to deal with.
“The process of rebuilding can be troubling for victims when they return to their homes where everything is gone.
“We are trying to help them with electrical appliances such as fans and rice cookers, gas stoves, cleaning detergent and school aid for children.
“There is still a great need and we call on Malaysians to continue contributing to help our fellow Malaysians,” she said.
Prema also called on the Federal Government to work with local councils to help victims rebuild their lives and homes.
“The local councils have the appropriate equipment such as trucks, forklifts and high-pressure water jets,” she added.
Gurdwara Sahib Petaling Jaya, (GSPJ) one of the earliest non-governmental organisations that swung into flood relief action, said they are prepared to continue rendering aid.
Its president Awtar Singh Terry said the flash floods had shown the true Malaysian spirit, with everyone united as one to help those in need.
“We mobilised our youths within hours after receiving alerts of rising water levels in several areas of Selangor on Dec 19.
“We started gathering supplies and also decided to prepare vegetarian meals to be distributed to those who were stranded.”
When more calls for help came in, Awtar said they went online to seek four-wheel drive vehicles to send items and meals to the victims, as the water level continued to rise.
“We received overwhelming response from netizens. We managed to give out 15,000 packs of meals on the first day,” he said, adding that public donations began pouring in as well.
He said the GSPJ team started arranging for family starter packs consisting of toiletries, undergarments and towels, followed by dry rations to be sent to victims.
“We were lucky that our hotline number went viral so we got great response from the public.
“With the support of our command centre and volunteers, we were able to channel help according to where it was most needed,” he said, adding that the relief mission involved some 400 volunteers with hundreds of others also helping out.
“It was both surprising and touching to see the response from fellow Malaysians,” he said.
Thanking those who had helped in cash and kind, Awtar said it showed that “we can do wonders when we come together”.
“The willingness to care and provide help is still evident.
“The flood situation in Pahang and the east coast states is still bad and we are expecting a second wave.
“Not all the water has receded, while those who had returned home are struggling as they see their houses gone.
“We are now focusing on the east coast states as fewer NGOs are going there,” he said, adding that household appliances such as rice cookers and kettles, besides dry food, are being distributed.
“To those who have been affected, hang in there.
“Let’s pray together for this to be over soon,” said Awtar.