Refugees Help Clean Up Malaysians’ Flooded Homes

Refugee groups showing their gratitude and the spirit of togetherness in affected areas around Klang Valley.

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Refugee volunteers took part in cleaning up neighbourhoods that were devastated by recent floods that killed at least 46 people.

Syrian refugee Omar Alkhammash, organiser of one of the volunteer groups, said hundreds of refugees volunteered to help in worst-affected areas in Klang Valley after seeing the destruction on social media.

The refugees, together with the locals collected debris and repaired buildings, said Omar.

There are many refugees in Malaysia and we are one with the locals in good and bad times.
Refugee volunteers organiser Omar Alkhammash to TRP on their assistance to Malaysians.

Locals and refugees work hand in hand to clean up the floods. (Credit: Fernando Fong)

Omar added that the destruction left behind by the floods made him feel like he was back in Syria, a country that had been ravaged by civil war for 10 years and still going on.

Indeed, most of the refugee volunteers arrived in Malaysia many years ago, fleeing war and poverty.

Malaysia, on its part, had been accepting many refugees and migrants over the decades.

Sea of mud: A refugee working hard to clean up a flooded area in Cheras. (Credit: Fernando Fong)

Spirit Of Togetherness

The refugees also worked with elected representatives, including Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming.

Ong, who coordinated for Malaysians from other states to come and help in Klang Valley, said the refugees feel the same as Malaysians do.

The former Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry noted that the refugees have enough worries of their own, but they are here to help and work hand-in-hand with the Malaysians in order to repair everything.

Many houses of the locals were destroyed, and so are the places where many refugees seek shelter.
Bangi MP Dr Ong Kian Ming on the joint effort between locals and refugees

A Kindred Spirit

Another refugee, Hasan Rashid, said the refugees want to bring hope to Malaysians who are suffering from loss and destruction after the floods.

Hasan, who is a Rohingya from Rakhine, Myanmar, said the refugees draw on their experience with catastrophes in their homeland.

A rescue boat approaching a home in Taman Sri Muda when it was still flooded. (Credit: Fernando Fong)

What we knew of Malaysia is that it was very organised, very nice, very green. And then here in the catastrophe area I felt like I’m back in my homeland. We felt like this cannot be happening and so we decided to do something.
Rohingya refugee Hasan Rashid to TRP on his experience.

Cheras resident Razali Aksah, whose house was damaged in the floods, commended the refugees for their hardiness.

They are very fast and hardworking and full of ideas as to how to repair things.
Razali Aksah to TRP on the assistance given by refugees.

Ong Kian Ming (centre) with Razali Aksah (second from right) and some of the refugees volunteers and locals. (Credit: Fernando Fong)

A Muddy Awakening

The floods have shaken up the political agenda before a national election due latest by 2022, raising uncomfortable questions about why the nation’s capital and its most developed state were caught flat-footed.

Many Malaysians especially netizens believe that federal policymakers should have done more to protect communities from flooding.

Chief among the complaints are the slow response from authorities.

MUDA volunteers cleaning up homes in Taman Sri Muda. (Credit: Fernando Fong)

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