LAST month, Penang suffered its worst floods in 30 years. Amid the chaos and destruction, one man became an instant hero when he opened up a surau in Taman Free School to provide shelter for victims.

Sapno Tukijo’s action, however, also painted him as a villain among Muslims, for the bilal had allowed non-Muslims to seek refuge in the surau.

On social media, he was lauded but others vilified him for allowing non-Muslims – some of whom were shirtless and in shorts – into the surau.

“I don’t care about the attacks. The people who criticised me were not at the scene. If they were there, they might have done the same thing,” said Sapno.

“We were experiencing a very bad flood, worse than any before. The water was rising at 2am when people were sleeping,” he said, recalling the storm on November 4 and 5.

“If another disaster happens, I will do it again,” Sapno told The Malaysian Insight last night.

Honoured by Christians

The Taman Free School surau bilal was among those honoured by the Christians for Peace and Harmony in Malaysia movement (CPHM) at its interfaith Christmas dinner at G Hotel yesterday, for helping Penang flood victims irrespective of race, religion and background.

Sapno, who unwittingly found fame for doing what came naturally to him, said he was touched by the gesture.

“I feel thankful. We are all servants of God,” he said.

His newfound fame also earned him the permanent residency he had long applied for.

“I had been waiting for it for 24 years. I just got it last week at the immigration office in Putrajaya,” said the soft-spoken man who has lived in Malaysia for 30 years.

Unsung heroes

Others who also helped the flood victims included hotel manager Subri Hashim, who ferried the victims to the surau.

The Taman Free School resident was on his way to the surau when he saw a Chinese man calling out for help.

“I was on a boat when I saw a Chinese man calling for help. He said that there were old people trapped in their homes in the neighbourhood behind the surau.

“We paddled there and saw people signalling for help with torch lights. Almost every home had elderly people. Some were so frail they had trouble moving.

“We made several trips, as the boat could take only five to six people at a time,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

That day, the double-storey surau was all they had with the floodwaters rising to their necks, Subri said.

“There was nowhere else to go. So, we put everyone on the top floor of the surau.”

Mosques, suraus are open to all

Taman Free School surau treasurer Abd Nasir Salleh said the place of worship became a shelter for about five days until all the flood victims left.

The welfare department, he said, sent officers, doctors and nurses to care for the victims, especially the elderly.

“A Malay family nearby also helped by making drinks for the victims. When people come to our mosques or surau in peace and with good intentions, we have to take care of them,” he said.

Nasir said there was no rule dictating who could enter or not enter mosques or surau.

“Our houses of worship are for all. They are centres for the community and places of charity. Holding prayers or religious events is only one of its many functions.”

Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Mohd Rashid Hasnon, who was the guest of honour at the CPHM event, thanked Sapno and the others for showing good example, adding that they had practised what Islam preached.

CPHM chairman Lee Min Choon said those who had aided flood victims around Penang had shown basic goodness.

“Our religions teach us to serve humanity. We cannot do it without working together, so we must learn to do it despite our differences,” he said.

Global Unity Network (Unity) president Shah Kirit Kakulal Govindji said the various faiths had doctrinal differences but their people should focus on their shared similarities.

“Like in the Quran and Bible, we can find many similarities. Why don’t we agree in areas where we can, and agree to disagree where we cannot?

“It will be good to start by showing tolerance towards each other, before we move on to acceptance and respect.”

Leading by example

CPHM and Unity have been working together for several years, organising events that bring religious leaders from different communities to sit together, and make friends as a way of countering the rising polarisation in Malaysia.

CPHM’s northern region representative Pastor Samuel Teh said while politicians might create situations to gain mileage and serve their own agendas, groups like theirs are organising their “grassroots movement” to bring the communities together and encourage all to work towards a common good.

“It should be like how Sapno and others have broken the barrier and mentality that the surau was exclusively for Muslims through their acts of kindness,” he said.

Shah Kirit said problems among the different races and religions are often caused by misconceptions and prejudices.

“It all depends on how we resolve problems. As community leaders, we can have dialogues among ourselves, and then bring the message to the people we speak to in our respective communities.

“Once the people are educated, there will be no more room for hatred,” he said, adding that politicians’ attempts to fan racial and religious sentiments will also no longer work.

“If we cannot change upwards, then we change downwards,” Shah Kirit said. – December 19, 2017.