JOHOR BARU: Demonstrating the saying "providing a helping hand when in need" were seven valiant individuals from Semporna, Sabah, who since Jan 10 have been in Johor to aid in the evacuation of people and clean-up operations necessitated by floods following heavy rains.
Dubbed the "Semporna Heroes", these individuals felt duty-bound to come to help out in the state's time of distress because of the aid that two Johor NGOs offered when a resurgence in Covid-19 cases in October placed Sabah under a lot of stress.
The Johor NGOs that sent volunteers to help out in Sabah were Ihsan Johor and Yayasan Kebajikan Suria.
Both bodies come under the flagship of Iskandar Malaysia Social Heroes Awards (IMSHA) which has around 120 NGOs and individuals in their IMSHA Winners Network.
IMSHA was established in 2014 to mobilise and direct NGOs and individuals in Johor to help in welfare and charity work on behalf of the underprivileged and stricken.
The Johor volunteers who went to Sabah got together with the seven "Semporna Heroes" to assist in frontline work to combat the Covid-19 resurgence in the East Malaysian state.
When floods caused by heavy and continuous rains beset Johor from early this month, the team from Semporna composed of Roihan Ang Lee Han, Mohd Hassan Abu Kassim, Rosdianto Anto, Abdul Anan Willy, Muhd Faizal Parintah, Richard Andoh, Mohd Sarri Hatab, flew into Johor to return the favour done them last October by the Ihsan and Suria volunteers.
"The Semporna Heroes came here to show solidarity, (and) that they have not forgotten the assistance we Johorians have given to them and that they are always ready to return the favour," said Farrah Faridah Baptist, chief executive officer (CEO) of Pertubuhan Ihsan Johor (Insan Johor).
"This is the spirit of NGOs for we are driven by passion and a strong sense of camaraderie to see better community resilience," added Farrah.
Thousands of Johorians had to be relocated to 60 temporary relief centres in affected districts in towns such as Johor Baru, Skudai, Kota Tinggi, Kluang, Mersing, Pontian, Kulai and Batu Pahat.
The relief centres were set up to provide shelter for flood victims.
The situation was made worse when flood victims returned home after the waters receded only to be evacuated again after heavy rains returned and caused their areas to be flooded again.
To help the victims evacuate as well as clean their neighbourhoods, NGOs from IMSHA mobilised to provide aid while adhering to Covid-19 SOPs.
These volunteers had the assistance of the "Semporna Heroes" in the evacuation and clean-up operations caused by the floods.
"Our goal is to help create a resilient community that will help all segments of the society in Malaysia irrespective of race, colour or creed," said Edey Suresh, Founder of Social Hero Foundation of IMSHA.
"We must all work together and share our resources to achieve sustainability and greater impact," Edey said.
According to Edey, checks in several areas today have shown that the floodwaters have receded in most places but there are still victims occupying the relief centres.
"The onerous effort of cleaning post-flood will keep relief NGOs busy for a continued period," he added.
The Semporna seven are expected to return to their home state after Feb 4 when the Movement Control Order, re-imposed from Jan 13, is expected to be lifted – provided that a resurgent Covid-19 pandemic recedes.