Tragedies and disasters often bring out the best and worst of people. In the last couple of weeks of 2014, the nation grapples with one of the worst floods in history. The floods have inundated various districts in a number of states. The worst hit are states in the East Coast as well as low-lying areas in Perak, Johor, Perlis, Kedah and Selangor.
According to the National Security Council as found in the council’s Disaster Portal, a disaster is defined as “an incident that occurs unexpectedly, complex in nature, resulting in the loss of lives and damage to properties and the environment as well as interfering with the daily activities of the local community.”
Most definitely, the floods have disrupted the lives of the community in these states, and have caused great damage. Some even view the impact of flood to be worse than the “red flood” of 1926. The cost for infrastructure repairs is estimated to be around RM338 million, of which RM204.3 million is for the East Coast states.
The reality is that many areas are still affected. Many people are displaced. Some lost their homes and businesses. There are even those who tragically lost their lives. Some flood victims, who are slightly more fortunate, still have their homes intact, although much work needs to be done in terms of cleaning and repairs.
It is this dire situation that touched the hearts of many Malaysians across the country to lend a helping hand. During the time when many flood victims were facing difficulties when all access to them was cut off, the priority was to get access to send food, water and medical supplies.
Many from all over the country came out to donate the necessities to the victims. Some even volunteered to go to the ground to provide direct help to the victims. The response given to the call for help has been nothing short of an inspiration.
Individuals, corporations, government agencies, universities, schools and NGOs – all do their part in providing help regardless of their background, race or religion. This is perhaps one of the best times to see the “true Malaysians” – people who are willing to come forward at a time when others are in need.
When the floods recede, more work needs to be done to assist the victims to resettle to their normal lives. This includes physical work such as cleaning up, repairing and rebuilding their homes and surrounding infrastructure. Attention must also be given to healthcare as the risk of waterborne diseases in the aftermath of the floods is high.
Equally critical is that we should not forget or ignore a less obvious form of assistance which involves emotional and psychological counselling and support to the victims who experienced great trauma during the floods.
Efforts to provide all forms of assistance and support are on-going. Even as the new year of 2015 starts, many organisations and individuals continue to reach out to the victims. It is heart-warming to see altruism and empathy in these volunteers.
While we are inspired by the unselfish acts of the volunteers, we are also saddened by reports of certain irresponsible people reaping benefits out of the victims’ misfortunes. Some NGOs have highlighted that some “donors” who, under the guise of giving donations, have taken this as an opportunity to dump their unwanted stuff, which incredibly includes items like used undergarments and worn out clothing.
It has also been widely reported in the media that the price for a 1.5 litre bottle of petrol in Pasir Mas and Tanah Merah was RM15 which is almost five times higher than the current price. There are also reports that the price for meals was also five-fold higher than it should be.
It is understood that supplies for essential items are hard to come by during difficult times such as this. Simple economics rule of supply and demand would dictate that prices of goods and services which are in high demand would definitely go up. While it is expected that prices go up, they should nevertheless be reasonable enough and not exorbitant to the extent of taking advantage of people’s sufferings.
These are some of the official reports in the media as well as stories shared in the social media. We can see that disasters do indeed bring out the good, the bad and the ugly. And all this has to do with our heart (or intention).
In actuality, what is crucial in ensuring the success of providing aid and assistance to the victims is the “heartware.” We can have all the latest forms of hardware and software manifested in various types of technologies, gadgets, tools and infrastructure, but at the end of it all, the success hinges very much on the “heartware.”
Here, “heartware” is a term that refers to people’s emotional intelligence. Do we empathise with the victims, or are we merely observers? How altruistic are we in providing the much needed aid and support to the victims of the disaster? When we help and provide assistance, do we do it out of sincerity, or are we merely showing off?
If one’s intention is pure and sincere, then one would not even think of taking advantage of the victims’ ordeals. To take advantage in this manner is akin to daylight robbery. The heart must be at the right place when we want to reach out to help others.
Islam very much encourages its believers to provide help to those in need. This is very clear from the famous Hadith of the Prophet reported under the authority of Hakim ibn Hizam that the “upper hand is better than the lower hand” (Sahih Bukhari, no. 508). In other words, Islam encourages and motivates Muslims to be the ones who provide help and assistance.
However, for this to be accepted as an act of worship, the deed must be done with utmost sincerity. Abu Hurayrah reported that Prophet Muhammad said to the effect that, “Verily, Allah does not look at your appearance or wealth, but rather He looks at your hearts and actions” (Sahih Muslim, no. 2564).
Those who provide sincere help would have a rewarding feeling in their hearts upon seeing their efforts successful. This is a form of reward that no amount of money can buy. This is perhaps what is meant when Ibn al-Qayyim reported that one of the Prophet’s companion, Abdullah ibn Abbas had said that, “Verily, good deeds will brighten the face, enlighten the heart, expand provision, strengthen the body, and cause love in the hearts of creatures.”
However, those who only help for their own selfish reasons, or even worse those who profit from other people’s misfortunes would only be there for the victims for the short term. Once the spotlight is away, then they would also disappear. They may reap certain immediate yields, but such a “reward” does not last long as it does not receive God’s blessings.
Such deeds, or perhaps more appropriately, misdeeds according to Abdullah ibn Abbas would “blacken the face, darken the grave and the heart, weaken the body, restrict provision, and cause hatred in the hearts of creatures.”
We pray that the victims of this flood be strong and patient in facing this test. Those who are not affected by this disaster should help in any way possible. At the very least, we can show empathy by offering them prayers so that things will improve, and that the victims can rebuild their lives after this great devastation.
At the same time, the relevant agencies and bodies should also have the “heart” to look at the floods from a macro perspective. The flood, as many has pointed out, is an annual phenomenon. The costs to rebuild and provide assistance are no doubt very high. Would it not be more proactive and perhaps more cost-effective to look at the big picture of this phenomenon, and try to identify the root cause of the flooding?
It is perhaps better to start to invest in studies to mitigate floods in the affected areas. We have many experts in civil engineering, geology, hydrology, environmental management and various relevant disciplines working in firms, universities and research institutions. It is high time that we utilise these experts to seriously find a long term solution to mitigate the problem.
As mentioned earlier, the one important element needed is the “heartware.” If we are sincere and our hearts are in the right place, not only would we be able to react to the disaster that took place efficiently and effectively, but we would also put our hearts into taking efforts to mitigate the problem in a proficient and proactive manner.