KUALA LUMPUR – The Klang Valley and various states in Malaysia have been brought to their knees by the floods, but everyday Malaysians and emergency services are getting the nation back on its feet again.
With crucial routes flooded or destroyed by the non-stop rain, many were stuck on highways and in their homes as water levels rose last night, blocking even emergency services from conducting rescue operations.
This caused many flood victims to turn to social media for urgent help.
Some were family members seeking assistance for loved ones who were either missing or stranded.
One netizen urged to keep an eye out for her mother’s vehicle who was stuck on the roads due to the floods and was not responding to calls at midnight.
HELP! Anyone pls be on the lookout for car WNM331 proton waja. My mom was supposed to be back home in Seksyen 22 but got stucked in Seksyen 24. Im very worried for her since ramai yg update area situ dah naik air n dah banyak kali call my mom tp tak angkat ?? #DaruratBanjir pic.twitter.com/EqVqyCvSEy
— syaf | agentpaparogerbyrink (@Syfnaz) December 18, 2021
“HELP! Anyone, please be on the lookout for car WNM331 Proton Waja. My mom was supposed to be back home in Seksyen 22 but got stuck in Seksyen 24.
“I'm very worried for her since there are updates that the water levels are rising and she is not picking up her phone,” @Syfnaz tweeted at 12am today.
Fortunately, around 10 hours ago, the same user tweeted that her mother was safe.
Her mother had merely switched her phone off to conserve battery, and was stuck due to low fuel.
Update: ALHAMDULILLAH YA ALLAH ? found my mom and shes safe! Rupanya dia tutup hp nak save battery alahaiii.. cuma my mom stranded kat tempat sama sbb minyak kereta habis. Tp dia kata ada orang2 yg parking kat situ juga so okay kot. Thank you so much @najmilokman ✨?
— syaf | agentpaparogerbyrink (@Syfnaz) December 18, 2021
Another netizen, @TehminaKaoosji, used Twitter to blast an SOS for a couple stranded at Pangsapuri Damai Condo in Shah Alam. It is understood the woman is four months pregnant.
#BanjirDarurat RESCUE NEEDED- pls RT!
— Tehmina Kaoosji (@TehminaKaoosji) December 19, 2021
Couple stranded at Pangsapuri Damai Condo, Shah Alam.
Wife is 4 months PREGNANT. Housing area ard complex is flooded, electricity off since yesterday evening.
LOW ON FOOD AND WATER.
Husband’s CONTACT:
Izwan Omar +6 012-219 7853
TQ! ?
Meanwhile, @Benneny tweeted about his younger brother and sister-in-law reportedly stuck in Meru, Klang.
My lil brother and SIL still waiting for help at their house.
— Benny (@Benneney) December 18, 2021
Their address: No 5,lot 4824,lorong cempaka,off jalan paip 41050 meru Klang
Pls help they've been waiting for the past few hrs. Ni gambar maghrib tadi. Not sure skrg mcm mana. #DaruratBanjir pic.twitter.com/xSjSztEE9Z
Photos uploaded showed waters rising to knee level, with several pet cats forced to take refuge on a bed.
Fortunately, the latest update revealed that water levels did not continue rising and neighbours provided assistance.
UPDATE: THEY'RE OKAY. Apparently they didn't reply last night bcs the water was waist level and they were rescuing all the cats so they've been busy. Food supplies are given by people whose houses are least affected by the flood. Everyone is safe for now alhamdulillah.
— Benny (@Benneney) December 19, 2021
But it was not only desperate flood victims that took to social media to seek help, as Klang MP Charles Santiago sought from the public urgent donations such as mineral water, dry foods, masks, and diapers, among other things.
He said his office has prepared food enough for 3,000 people to be distributed in nine areas, but is not able to serve all localities due to lack of manpower and logistics.
“Our staff and volunteers are the victims of flooding too. As such, we are also facing a shortage of manpower to distribute food and water.
“Therefore, we need more volunteers for food distribution and rescue work. We also need more 4WD and boats to reach the victims.
“My office is setting up a fundraising campaign to provide urgent food, transport, and other urgent relief support for the thousands who are stranded,” Santiago tweeted today.
5. My office is setting up a fundraising campaign to provide urgent food, transport and other urgent relief support for the thousands who are stranded
— Charles Santiago (@mpklang) December 19, 2021
Please donate to:
TABUNG KECEMASAN BANJIR KLANG
CIMB 8600 474 130
MP Klang Training Centre
Charles Santiago
Fortunately, for the stranded victims who took to social media for help, netizens themselves have voluntarily mobilised and organised assistance, with some compiling lists of available contact details for volunteer rescuers on their social media accounts.
One such netizen is Twitter user @WinDeFantastico, who offered his four-wheel-drive vehicles and himself to assist victims.
“If you guys know anyone that is affected by the floods and needs help carrying the stuff, roger me (let me know).
“I have a few 4WDs and I will bear the costs,” @WinDeFantastico tweeted at 6.30pm yesterday.
Another Twitter user, @awl1yuh, offered her number and vehicle on social media as she was helping flood victims reach shelters or homes in Shah Alam.
In her post, she uploaded a video of a family walking the streets as they escaped the floods, offering them a ride.
I am helping families and children who are trying to get to someplace safer or balik rumah AREA SHAH ALAM
— aliah (@awl1yuh) December 19, 2021
Contact me 011-15427244 (Aliah) pic.twitter.com/vv1pjHlNBt
Meanwhile, youth Sikh group Sikh Inside are providing food to victims in the Klang, Shah Alam, Subang, and Petaling Jaya areas.
“Our helpline is up and running. Food preparations are ongoing. Currently cooking for the first 5,000 pax. The second batch will begin shortly,” @SikhInside tweeted.
PSA: (Please RT)
— SikhInside (@SikhInside) December 19, 2021
Gurudwara Petaling Jaya will be cooking hot meals for flood victims in the Klang Valley area (Klang/Shah Alam/Subang/PJ).
We will be delivering the meals in bulk to the areas that require assistance.
For assistance, contact: GSPJ Flood Foodbank @ 010-2174556
Similarly, Good Samaritan businessmen have also opened their commercial premises for shelter and food.
For instance, the operator of Al-Ali Nasi Kandar in Seksyen U8, Shah Alam has opened the restaurant for victims.
“If there is anyone in need of food or in hunger, please head to Al-Ali Nasi Kandar, U8.
“My dad has arranged free food for the victims and families that are in hunger,” @mohamed_azman7 tweeted.
If there is anyone in need of food or in hunger, please head to Al Ali Nasi Kandar, U8. My dad has arranged free food for the victims and families that are in hunger. Address is as below:
— Azman.S (@mohamed_azman7) December 18, 2021
No.14, Jalan H U8/N, Bukit Jelutong, Seksyen U8, 40150, Shah Alam https://t.co/sOt77nrWxi pic.twitter.com/sGCjwP8N58
Meanwhile, for those who were stranded in Taman Sri Muda Shah Alam, netizens took to social media to point out where they could seek temporary shelter.
They pointed out that SJK (T) Ladang Emerald and Giant Kemuning Utama were available to victims.
This is the place. Come here if you need tempat berteduh (Taman Sri Muda, Shah Alam) https://t.co/G8kheMtGpR pic.twitter.com/GJWhZ3s78o
— ルビ ??? ? (@robeiaf) December 18, 2021
As of 8am today, 6,242 victims have been placed in 80 temporary evacuation centres in Klang, Kuala Langat, Petaling, Sepang, Kuala Lumpur, and Hulu Langat according to the Selangor Menteri Besar’s Office.
Yesterday, during a late-night press conference, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob told victims not to worry, as rescue machinery have been mobilised to help those who are trapped.
It is believed that the continuous rain that caused the floods is due to Tropical Depression 29, a rapidly rotating storm system commonly referred to as a tropical cyclone that sustains winds between 50km/h and 60km/h. – The Vibes, December 19, 2021
