FOR A GOOD CAUSE: UCSI students in the midst of cleaning over one hundred glass tableware during their trip to a flood-affected area in Temerloh.

SUPERHEROES: The mission was a success. UCSI FETBE head of department (Civil Engineering) Ir Asst Prof Ahmad Bin Tamby Kadir, students and residents of Kg Paya Dalam, Temerloh pose for a group shot.

EMPTY BOTTLES: An engineering student from UCSI clearing away mud-caked bottles.

TEMERLOH: Over 60 students from UCSI University’s Faculty of Engineering, Technology and Built Environment (FETBE) came together to help flood victims in Kg Paya Dalam, Temerloh on Jan 10, 2015. 

In line with ‘OPS Bantuan Sukarelawan Banjir’, the campaign – led by FETBE head of department (Civil Engineering) Ir Asst Prof Ahmad Bin Tamby Kadir – saw the clean-up of 35 flooded houses. 

Most of the area had been submerged under flood water, leaving the victims with ruined and mud-caked belongings. When water levels finally receded, the area was left with a horrible stench – the aftermath left the volunteers with much to do. 

Volunteers for the clean-up operation were segregated into seven groups; while several groups were cleaning up houses and throwing away strewn garbage and ruined furniture, a group of girls were assigned to clean dishes that the villagers reserved for special occasions. 

According to a student from Yemen, Enas Rajeh, over one hundred glass tableware needed to be cleaned. 

“It took us the whole day to do the dishes but none of us complained. Malaysia is my second home and everyone here is my family,” she said. “We went (to Temerloh) as a family to help our family. This is not just about karma – it’s also about being kind.” 

Another UCSI student from Jordan, Ahmad Adli Al Lulu, added that he felt great joy knowing he was part of the mission. 

“There were so many things to clear away and clean. The houses had a very terrible smell and were layered with mud, even on the inside!” he said. “There were also many walls to scrub but it was well worth the effort.” 

To raise funds to buy essential items including water jets, buckets, hoses, brooms, mops, brushes, and 50 boxes of drinking water, fruits and instant noodles for flood victims, a booth to collect donations was also set up by UCSI students on campus grounds. A total of RM3,600.00 was raised. 

In this, Ir Asst Prof Ahmad praised the students and said it was refreshing to see them volunteer for a good cause. 

“I am very proud of our students. Although we only had a few days to pull this off, it was a success,” he said. 

“Personally, I believe it’s very important for engineering students to be engaged in something like this. This is where they learn and gain deeper understanding of natural disasters and what we can do to prevent them in terms of construction. Responsible engineers are engineers who know what is good and safe for the people.”