VOLUNTEERS came out to help flood victims stranded in Shah Alam, Selangor, over the weekend, despite their concerns about contracting Covid-19.

NobleDr founder Dr Syazana Ali said she sheltered 15 strangers in her house after finding them stranded.

She told The Malaysian Insight that she had meant to only help a friend in need on Saturday, but ended up bringing 15 people home.

“I saw a family with children sleeping at a petrol station while heading home. I also learnt of doctors stranded in their clinics, so I decided to round them up and bring them to my house,” she said, recounting her experience.

“I wanted to bring more people, but we did not have enough space or electricity due to the floods, so I did not want to make conditions worse at home with more people.”

Dr Syazana said she is aware of coronavirus risks, but feels that, as a doctor, she should help people as much as possible.

She added that some flood victims stayed the night, while others left yesterday morning.

She said to ensure her health and safety, she self-tests regularly for Covid-19.

Muhammad Shafiq, 29, said he was worried when he realised the flood victims he was helping were not wearing face masks.

“I was afraid, but I also felt that the in times like this, we have to do what we can. If we do not help each other, no one will,” said the flood rescue volunteer, who helped deliver food.

“I told friends who wanted to help but have senior citizens at home to not join in, so they do not expose elderly folk to infection risks.”

Jeremy Tiew, 26, from Damansara, said he took precautions by wearing a face mask and gloves.

“I did this as I knew it would be impossible to maintain physical distancing,” said the volunteer, who helped bring food to stranded victims.

He said the authorities should provide personal protective equipment to volunteers at evacuation centres.

As the figure of flood evacuees grows nationwide, there is also concern of the spread of Covid-19.

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin had yesterday said his ministry is bracing for more coronavirus infections, after 181 Covid-19 cases were detected among flood victims at evacuation centres.

“Most of the cases are Categories 1 and 2.”

Flood-affected patients will be transferred to hospitals and close contacts will be moved to quarantine centres.

Continuous heavy rain has caused devastating floods in eight states and territories in the peninsula over the weekend, namely Perak, Pahang, Kelantan, Terengganu, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Malacca and Negri Sembilan.

As of yesterday, 32,044 flood victims have been evacuated to 162 temporary relief centres in nine districts in Selangor, with 18,858 victims moved in Klang alone. – December 21, 2021.