The Malaysian Insight

THERE has been no harassment from the authorities during the flood relief efforts in Pahang and the Klang Valley, volunteers told The Malaysian Insight.

They said relief work has been going smoothly without intervention from the authorities.

This comes after six Muda volunteers in Johor were called in for questioning for breaching Covid-19 rules while helping flood victims in the state.

Muda chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman chastised the authorities for treating the volunteers like criminals.

Johor Muda chief Mohd Azrol Ab Rahani said the volunteers were accused of breaching the standard operating procedure (SOP) because they did not get permission for their flood rescue and relief efforts from the Segamat district officer.

While relief work in Pahang and the Klang Valley are still ongoing, the relief workers said efforts are slowing down as most areas have returned to normal with residents returning home from evacuation centres.

Segar, a businessman from Kuala Lumpur who has been travelling to Mentakab, Pahang in a three-tonne lorry carrying aid, said he has not encountered any issues with the authorities.

“In Mentakab there is no such thing. There has been no problem (with the authorities),” he told The Malaysian Insight.

He said the only time he was stopped from entering an area was in Shah Alam when the water level were still high.

“In Shah Alam, they restricted private boats from going in to give assistance as it was pitch dark. So they took over.”

Segar, who has been travelling to Mentakab since December said his trip this Wednesday will be his eighth and last trip delivering aid to the state.

“I have a business selling medical gloves and personal protection gear which has been neglected for a while, I need to get back to that.”

The Klang Valley and several other states such as Pahang, Kelantan, Negri Sembilan and Malacca were affected by floods due to heavy rain over the December 18 weekend.

Several weeks after that, Johor was still inundated by floods, with Segamat being one of the most affected areas where 2,000 residents had to be evacuated.

Jayendran Jayaraman who has been helping out in Karak, Pahang also said that they has not encountered any problems with the authorities.

“No such thing, everything is going smoothly. People here recognise us and they know what we are doing,” he said.

Jayendran who uses a local temple, Sri Balasubramaniar Aalayam Karak, as a collection centre, said he still has around 300 packets of groceries to deliver.

After which, he too will be winding down operations.

“In another 10 days we will most likely finish distributing all the items. We are still getting the odd donations here and there which we will distribute as and when we receive them.”

In Selangor, Siva, a volunteer who has been helping out in Shah Alam and Klang, said he has not been stopped from delivering aid.

“We just went to Pulau Carey in Klang to donate furniture such as study tables and beds. No one stopped us.

“I went to Karak, Temerloh and Sri Muda, no one has stopped us. But you take your own risk going in there.

“We are now collecting more items so that we can distribute them in Kedah and Johor, which will most likely take place next week.”

Yap Chun Wei who has been helping out in Sri Muda also shared the same experience.

“So far we have been very lucky that we didn’t have any issues and everything is going smoothly.”

He, along with 20 to 30 volunteers, have been helping out over the weekend as many have returned to work and are no longer able to help on a daily basis. – January 11, 2022.