UMP sends KILAU Volunteers to help flood victims in Baling

BALING, 15 July 2022 - It was disheartening for KILAU UMP volunteers team when they arrived at Kampung Masjid Iboi in Baling, which was hit by the tragedy of floods and headwater.

The residents’ houses were badly damaged by mud and some were displaced by the flood currents in the disaster that afflicted the residents in Baling.

Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) sent a volunteer assistance mission led by Senior Executive, Centre for Corporate Affairs and Quality (PHKK), Hazlina Faisal who is also the Head of the Staff Component Volunteer Committee with 30 people consisting of students, UMP staff and staff of the Community Development Department, UMP NCER Advanced Programme in the Post Flood Care Assistance Mission.

According to the UMP Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Ts. Dr. Yuserrie Zainuddin, up to now, 60 KILAU UMP volunteers have come to help clean the houses and deliver Yayasan UMP food donations for the people around Kampung Bendang Pecah, Baling, which was mobilised by the Student Component Volunteer Committee.

“This time KILAU volunteer team under the Staff Component Volunteer Committee was in Kampung Masjid Iboi Baling to continue the mission of extending assistance to clean the residents' houses as well as distributing the contribution of Yayasan UMP and UMP Women's Association (Matahari) in the form of food packs for the residents there,” he said, who is also the Deputy Chairman of Yayasan UMP.

He said that UMP was concerned about the disaster that afflicted the population here and that UMP and Yayasan UMP made various efforts to alleviate the burden of the affected population.

He appreciated the service of students and staff who were willing to sacrifice time and energy to participate in volunteer programmes, aligning with the name KILAU Volunteers which means Creative and close to the heart of the community, Innovative, Sustainable, Aggressive and Universal.

Previously the first group of volunteers moved ahead with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni), Associate Professor Ts. Dr. Mohd Rusllim Mohamed who brought donations of essential items in the form of food, drinking water, sanitary napkins, disposable diapers and other necessities to be distributed to the residents at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Jerai.

Meanwhile, Hazlina said she was helped by many other NGOs and kept in touch with Penghulu Mukim Kupang, Badrol Hisham Che Li to get information to coordinate activities there since there were still many uncleaned houses and most of them were still staying at the temporary relief centres (PPS).

He added that volunteers were also very committed and always eager to help the residents and at the same time keep volunteers safe and keep their health in good condition.

Meanwhile, staff of the Community Development Department, NCER UMP Advanced Programme, Muhamad Syahir Zaini Shahimi said he felt called to help and alleviate the burden of victims affected by the post-flood.

“We are helping to clean affected houses and distributing essential needs.

“We hope this effort can ease the burden on the victims involved,” he said.

Also at the location were the Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, Yang Berhormat Tan Sri Haji Noh Omar and the Baling Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Panglima Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim who expressed their gratitude for the contributions of KILAU UMP volunteers and other NGOs.

By: Mimi Rabita Abdul Wahit, Corporate Communications Division, Chancellery Department

Translation by: Dr. Rozaimi Abu Samah, Engineering College/Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology