It says a lot about the government's flood rescue efforts that soon after the prime minister launched the Keluarga Malaysia Flood Relief Fund on Monday, "DO NOT DONATE TO GOVERNMENT", in all caps, started trending on Malaysian Twitter.
Days had passed since the "once in 100 years" flash floods had occurred and public confidence in the government's ability to help flood victims was non-existent.
There was thankfulness for the efforts of the fire and rescue services of course, who were the first to rescue flood victims, before the other uniformed services came later, but the sluggish and uncoordinated response meant there was no government to be thankful for because, in the most crucial days following the disaster, there might as well have been no government at all.
Thank goodness then for the helpers — ordinary Malaysians who were so moved by the suffering of their fellow countrymen who, without fanfare or launch ceremonies, immediately stepped up and stepped into the void that should have been filled by the government.
From non-governmental and religious organisations to non-governmental individuals, these very ordinary heroes proved to be more efficient and coordinated than any government agency. And though their efforts were disparate and haphazard, compared with the government's response, they did admirably well, especially in identifying the immediate needs of the victims.
Gurdwaras cooked food for evacuees, others brought food to those unable to evacuate, electricians offered to fix white goods for free, pet hotels offered to shelter pets, ordinary households opened up their homes, a man brought a generator so that flood victims could charge their cellphones, medical as well as veterinary field hospitals were set up in the most affected areas, and those that could not help physically donated money and essential items.
In Melaka, a 29-year-old man was so desperate to help that he took leave from work and, with only RM50 in his pocket, set off for Selangor with his boat tied to the roof of his car. Other boat owners from northern states, too, brought their boats to help rescue victims. This was the true semangat muhibbah (spirit of unity). Ironically, through its inefficiency, the government had succeeded in bringing together the people; though that KPI score is not for it to claim.
What need for a Keluarga Malaysia fund, when it is already being put into action all over the place?
Many of these ordinary heroes had no extraordinary skills, but through their compassion, they offered what they could. While the government rescue machinery was allegedly busy assessing the situation and figuring out how to get around the areas when road signs were submerged, these ordinary heroes went in on a wing and a prayer.
At any time, they could have come to grief and themselves become a statistic. Some boat owners experienced damage to their boats and were nearly tipped over when they hit submerged vehicles while navigating the urban roads-turned-rivers.
If the rescue authorities had been more organised and enjoyed the public's confidence, they could have called together all these volunteers and managed rescue and relief efforts with the public to ensure everyone's safety while achieving a speedy response, especially if they were overwhelmed. But in a time of crisis and where official help is slow to arrive, the ordinary heroes' naiveté is what saved the day. May these Malaysian angels be blessed abundantly.