UMP volunteers continue to provide assistance for flood victims

KUANTAN, 25 December 2021 - More than 500 volunteers comprising staff and students from Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) have been caring for flood victims in the state since the extreme flood event last week.

UMP assistance now focuses on sending volunteers for clean-up work and providing basic daily necessities assistance to the flood victims especially those involving the staff and families of affected students.

For a week, the volunteers stayed at several locations including Taman Inderapura, Taman Guru, Taman Sri Damai Perdana, Gudang Rasau Perdana, Kampung Teluk Mahang, Padang Garuda, Perumahan Damai Aman, Batu 7 Jalan Gambang and Taman Impian Perdana.

Today’s mission was continued involving a total of 70 UMP volunteers including 17 members from the Civil Defence Student Corps (Sispa Corps) who stayed at Taman Inderapura to help clean the houses of students affected by the flood.

For Arif Fadilah Ahmad Sofi, who led the volunteer mission, it was heartrending to see the level of damage caused by the floods and his team’s efforts were hoped to ease the burden of the victims and their families.

“The good weather today gave volunteers the opportunity to clean the houses of flood victims when the water started receding a few days ago.

“We divided the volunteers into groups so that the cleaning process runs smoothly as there were still dirty and wet clothes, mattresses and family belongings,” he said.

Meanwhile, for Lt Muda PA Muhammad Syamirul Saiful who participated in the programme, this experience was valuable for him who is a student and also as a new officer in the Sispa Corps.

“All the knowledge and training learned before were put into practice in real situations when facing situations before and after the flood.

“Besides that, joining the flood volunteer missions eliminates selfishness and the mind will be more open in helping the community in need,” he said.

In the meantime, Yayasan UMP also provides emergency assistance in the form of basic necessities, groceries, blankets and hygiene kits to the affected UMP staff and students.

Financial contributions were received from the public, industry, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and philanthropists who were willing to contribute to the UMP Disaster Fund.

Also participated in the mission were UMP Chief Operating Officer, Hazmin Aris, Chief for Staff Volunteer of University Disaster Management Steering Committee, Mohd Raizalhilmy Mohd Rais and Senior Manager of the Student Affairs Department, Haryani Abdullah.

UMP also coordinated nearly 300 volunteers from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) in an effort to help flood victims in Pahang.

By: Mimi Rabita Abdul Wahit, Corporate Communications Unit, The Office of The Vice-Chancellor

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