TERENGGANU and Kelantan folk, who have themselves lived through years of seasonal inundations, were quick to lend aid to the people of Selangor and Pahang displaced by floods following heavy rainfall earlier this week.

East coast residents told The Malaysian Insight they launched fundraisers and sent volunteers as well as supplies to the swamped areas.

Their central neighbours had helped them when they were stricken by deluges, they said, and it was time to return the favour.

Wan Mohd Farizan Wan Ahmad, 36, from Hulu Terengganu said he launched a solo aid mission after seeing so many people affected by floods in Selangor.

Wan Mohd, who is self-employed, said he set out to help in his four-wheel-drive vehicle after seeing many appeals for aid on social media.

“I was glad to have received help from fellow Malaysians when I was affected by floods. I told myself this was the time to reciprocate the kindness.

“Before going to Selangor, I uploaded my status on Facebook to ask for assistance from generous donors.

“Alhamdulillah, in a short period I was contacted by many parties wishing to extend aid,” he said.

He said he arrived in Selangor on Tuesday after travelling for nine hours.

“I arrived early in the morning on Tuesday and went straight to Taman Sri Muda to send aid to the affected residents,” he said.

He managed to reach the critical areas to hand out food, nappies, sanitary pads, bread, water, and biscuits.

“After that, I went to Klang to shop for more items which I afterwards distributed around Port Klang.

“Then I brought aid to the flood relief shelters,” he said.

Taman Sri Muda was one of the worst-hit areas. People were stranded for days without food before they were rescued.

Fourten people were found dead in the Shah Alam district.

The number of displaced grew to more than 26,000, who were given shelter in 134 evacuation centres in Selangor.

In Kelantan, the Kandis Sub-District People’s Welfare Development Association in Bachok launched a fundraiser and called for volunteers to deliver aid to Selangor.

The organisation’s secretary, Alamin said relief efforts began on Saturday.

“But because we were far from the affected parts and many routes were closed, it was a challenge getting out of Kelantan,” he said.

“And as most of our volunteers were in Selangor and Pahang, we gave the donations we had collected to them to buy supplies there,” he said.

“Our volunteer, Khairunnisa Zainal, who manages everything there, was focused on Sri Muda. But we soon moved on to other areas as Sri Muda was receiving a lot of help,” he said.

“Currently, we are trying to move to reach places such as Banting which have also been affected by the floods,” he said.

Fisabilillah in Terengganu has launched a flood disaster relief mission in Pahang, which is badly affected by floods.

Fisabilillah secretary Siti Farhana Md Yasin said a fundraising drive was held on social media.

“We focused on Kuantan first because it is closer and in need of help.

“Thanfully, we received many donations and 10 members headed there to distribute aid,” she said.

She said personal care kits, blankets, nappies, milk, prayer garments, and food were handed out.

In Pahang, water levels remain dangerous in Sungai Pahang, Sungai Semantan, Sungai Jelai, Sungai Triang, Sungai Rompin, Sungai Kuantan, and Sungai Selat.

Cases of flood continue to grow in the districts of Bera, Maran, Temerloh, and Mentakab. –  December 25, 2021.