WITH little sign of official help, volunteers took to at least 50 small boats and kayaks to help flood-stricken residents in Taman Sri Muda in Shah Alam yesterday.

They paddled their boats to deliver food and also to bring some residents back to safety.

At least 100 people volunteered, based on observations by The Malaysian Insight at the scene, where the flood waters reached 8ft (2.44m) deep.

A few volunteers said they decided to help the Taman Sri Muda residents after realising that official rescue was not forthcoming, some of whom have been posting about their plight and appeals for help on social media since Saturday.

Many residents said they had not eaten for almost 24 hours and were stranded on roofs or the upper floor of their homes.

A volunteer named Ean Tai, 28, borrowed kayaks from neighbours in Damansara, where he lives. He and a friend decided to help after reading about the flood victims’ appeals on social media.

“It’s been more than 24 hours and I do not know why none of authorities have shown up.

“They should be sending in their helicopters and rescue teams immediately,” he told The Malaysian Insight last night.

Similarly moved by the social media posts of stranded residents, Ahmad Shafiq, 27, said he and a friend felt they had to do something.

“We were just at home scrolling through social media, and once we saw people begging for help in Taman Sri Muda, we decided to go.

“We managed to buy a kayak at Decathlon on time, as their stock was running out,” Ahmad said.

Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming, who owns three kayaks, also joined the volunteers yesterday.

He reportedly rescued about 40 people over a four-hour period, while his two other kayaks manned by other volunteers rescued 20 more people, before one kayak was punctured.

“I also saw at least 10 other boats or floating devices, all manned by volunteers, bringing food to people or rescuing them.

“There was a woman on a paddle boat, there were others who had small boats but no oars, so they used makeshift paddles; there was even one group of people who tied rubber tyres together to make a raft,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Ong said questions will be raised as to why the authorities did not act swiftly to respond to the rising waters, and why warning notices were issued late.

“There are a lot of logistical challenges to organise flood rescue missions; you need the boats and the people who know how to man them, while you also need other forms of transport to ferry the rescued people to a safe, designated place.

“I only received a warning notice about rising flood levels on Saturday, when the rains had been non-stop since Friday.

“There is a problem with the flow of official information, the warning may be issued but somehow it doesn’t flow down quickly to the MPs or local councillors in a timely manner,” Ong said.

Another volunteer, who asked to be known as Shaq, was on the scene till late last night and said it was difficult without enough lights to navigate the boat in the dark.

“We could still hear people screaming for help. It is hard to leave them without more help arriving.

“The authorities, on the other hand, should have all the necessary equipment and lighting to do this, but they are nowhere to be seen.”

Taman Sri Muda residents have been appealing for help on social media for two days following incessant rainfall, even as the government announced that rescue missions were underway.

As of this morning, social media updates showed that several government agencies – including the National Disaster Management Agency, Fire and Rescue Department, the armed forces and the police – were rescuing flood victims and taking them to shelters. – December 20, 2021.