KUALA LUMPUR: The COVID-19 crisis has demonstrated that the worst situations tend to bring out the best in people and the organisations to which they belong.
The pandemic, which is now in its third year, has highlighted the good in Malaysians regardless of their diverse backgrounds.
In the middle of last year, Malaysians banded together to help those in need as reflected in the white flag or 'Bendera Putih' campaign, which underscores how Malaysians will go the extra mile to help each other.
Malaysia went into a nationwide lockdown for all social and economic sectors from June 1 to June 14, 2021 to rein in a surge of COVID-19 infections.
Last year's December floods also drew a swift outpouring of support from various parties such as non-governmental organisations, corporations and individuals to unite in the spirit of "Keluarga Malaysia" (Malaysian Family) in reaching out to ease the burden of the victims.
In Islam, helping each other is a fundamental aspect of the faith as the noble act itself, is stated in the holy Quran, said Director of the Malaysian Islamic Dakwah Foundation (YADIM), Penang, Mohd Afifi Ruslan.
He said the word 'Ta'awun' in the Arabic language means helping one another. In the Quran, Allah (swt) says: "Help one another in acts of piety and righteousness."
According to Mohd Afifi, when Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) migrated to Madinah with his closest companion and adviser Saidina Abu Bakar As-Siddiq, he showed compassion and kindness to the needy.
"The prophet did not ask his followers to carry out their missionary work upon arrival in Madinah, but instead instructed them to 'spread the salam' to the people and give them food. While in Madinah, the prophet made it his practice to help the poor from the Ansar and Muhajirin people," he told Bernama recently.
Mohd Afifi said helping others is a fundamental aspect of Islam, since the teaching itself promotes peace.
"Helping buoys the helper, not just the recipient. Just experience the simple gratification of contributing to the life of another human being," he added.
"It would be difficult for a nation to achieve stability if the people do not show empathy during trying times. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has often stressed on the importance of living in harmony...for long-term stability, the people should stay united regardless of their backgrounds," said Mohd Afifi.
VOLUNTEERING MODULE
One of the side effects of staying indoors due to the COVID-19 pandemic and enforcement of the movement control order (MCO) since March last year has been the surge in the use of gadgets and screen time among youths.
As a result, not many youths have been involved in physical activities such as volunteer work. To this, Mohd Afifi said today's younger generation should be given direct exposure to volunteering or charitable work.
"Programmes such as Rakan Muda, Rakan Masjid and the National Service Training Programme (PLKN) should be revived as their benefits far outweigh the drawbacks.
"Similarly, NGOs should also rope in the young into their programmes and allow them to be involved in social work," he said, noting that youth participation in social activities is rather lacklustre.
Should the PLKN be revived, he said, the government can draw up a Keluarga Malaysia volunteerism module to inculcate youth interest towards charitable activities.
Launched in 2004, PLKN was a three-month programme meant to train 17-year-olds and above drafted from around the country to foster patriotism and unity in a multiracial environment.
It was halted for a year in 2015 due to budget cuts in the government and reintroduced in 2016 as PLKN 2.0 with only about 20,000 trainees a year before being abolished in August 2018.
This programme aims to enhance the spirit of patriotism and love the nation among the younger generation, foster national unity and national integration, develop positive character through application of good values, promote the spirit of volunteerism among the youth, and produce a young generation with strong physical and mental as well as high self-esteem.
The programme required participants to spend three months in remote purpose-built camps.Rakan Muda, which was launched in 1994, aims to motivate youths aged between 15 to 25 to build up positive attitudes in an attempt to encourage them to pursue their dreams by providing them with new skills and knowledge.
TRANSCENDS RACIAL BOUNDARIES
Meanwhile, in a true Keluarga Malaysia spirit, a "mysterious" motorcyclist saved the day for Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) graduate R.Kevin, 28, by giving the latter a ride to his convocation ceremony.
Kevin, who was stuck in a congestion on the Penang Bridge on May 24 resorted to hitching a ride from the motorcyclist to take him to the university for his graduation.
The congestion on the bridge was the result of a fatal accident.
"I was excited and grateful that there were many people out there who were willing to come to my aid and take me to USM to celebrate my success of graduating with a Master of Business Administration with my friends," he said.
Kevin in relating the incident to Bernama recently, said he left home in Seberang Jaya with his parents at 6.30am but did not expect such a severe congestion due to a fatal accident that occurred on the bridge.
Kevin, who made it in time for the ceremony, later said that both his parents who continued driving in the jam, also managed to arrive at the university in time to see him receive his scroll.
Earlier in the morning, a photo of Kevin, smartly-dressed in a suit and clutching his graduation robe while sticking out his thumb to hitch a ride, went viral on social media.
While Kevin did not know the motorcylist, he was grateful that a good Samaritan was willing to help him.
"As soon as I arrived in USM, I thanked the Malay man for willing to help me.
"Without his help, I may not have been able to get on stage today (May 24).
"The man's act of selflessness will always remain etched in my memory," noted Kevin.
"Indeed, Keluarga Malaysia transcends religious and racial boundaries. The good values and the acts of helping others should be practised by all levels of society regardless of religion," he said.
According to social activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, Malaysia is not short of unsung heroes, many of whom willingly and selflessly step forward to help the needy and less fortunate without expecting anything in return.
Meanwhile, the spirit of Keluarga Malaysia will be promoted among participants of the Jelajah Aspirasi Keluarga Malaysia (AKM) programme to be held at the Terengganu Sports Complex in in Kuala Nerus starting today till June 4.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Thu Jun 02 2022
The pandemic, which is now in its third year, has highlighted the good in Malaysians regardless of their diverse backgrounds. - REUTERS
Kagame, menang 99.5 peratus pilihan raya Rwanda
Paul Kagame meneruskan khidmatnya buat penggal keempat berturut-turut sebagai Presiden Rwanda, selepas memenangi 99.15 peratus undi dalam pilihan raya negara itu.
Polis kerah lebih 300 anggota kawal perlawanan Piala FA
Seramai 351 anggota polis ditugaskan bagi mengawal perlawanan separuh akhir Piala FA antara Terengganu FC (TFC) dengan Selangor FC di Stadium Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin (SSMZA) Jumaat ini.
Dua warga AS antara yang ditemui maut di bilik hotel di Thailand
Jabatan Negara Amerika Syarikat ambil maklum mengenai laporan mengenai dua warganegaranya yang ditemui mati di sebuah hotel di Thailand.
EU tolak label UNRWA sebagai organisasi pengganas
Ketua Dasar Luar Kesatuan Eropah (EU), Josep Borrell mengulangi penolakan blok itu melabel Agensi Bantuan dan Kerja Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu untuk Pelarian Palestin (UNRWA) sebagai organisasi pengganas.
Mengimbau sedekad tragedi MH17
Pesawat MH17 Malaysia Airlines ditembak jatuh di timur Ukraine sejurus berlepas dari Lapangan Terbang Schiphol di Amsterdam, mengorbankan kesemua 283 penumpang dan 15 anak kapal di dalamnya.
Tragedi yang berlaku pada 17 Julai 2014 itu, kini memasuki tahun ke-10 kejadiannya.
Tragedi yang berlaku pada 17 Julai 2014 itu, kini memasuki tahun ke-10 kejadiannya.
Kerajaan teliti kaedah baharu lantikan tetap, pastikan kewangan negara lebih mampan
Kerajaan sedang meneliti kaedah baharu lantikan tetap bagi memastikan pengurusan kewangan negara yang lebih mampan.
PDRM gerak unit skuba forensik, K9 cari telefon, rantai Nur Farah Kartini hari ini
Proses mencari bahan bukti akan dimulakan sekitar jam 9 pagi di kawasan parit berhampiran ladang kelapa sawit berkenaan.
Bangkai pesawat MH17 tanpa sayap imbau kekejaman tragedi menyayat hati
Keadaan serpihan pesawat MH17 Malaysia Airlines (MAS) yang cuba dibina semula tanpa sayap, tayar, ekor dan tempat duduk penumpang cukup menggerunkan sekali gus mengingatkan pada kekejaman yang meragut
VOP akan diselesaikan dalam tempoh sebulan - Ahmad
Pelaksanaan Syarat Perubahan Harga (VOP) susulan penyasaran subsidi diesel dijangka diselesaikan dalam tempoh sebulan lagi, kata Timbalan Menteri Kerja Raya Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.
Industri minyak sawit disaran guna semula sisa untuk bahan api penerbangan mampan - Liew
Industri minyak sawit perlu mengkaji penggunaan semula sisa sebagai stok suapan penting untuk bahan api penerbangan mampan (SAF), di luar penggunaan tradisional minyak sawit.
Ismail Sabri terharu terima titah penghargaan Agong
Ujar Ismail Sabri, perkara itu bagaimanapun bukan datang dari hasil usaha sendiri sebaliknya melibatkan kerjasama pelbagai pihak.
Ismail Sabri hargai Perdana Menteri teruskan inisiatif Keluarga Malaysia
Antara inisiatif yang diteruskan ialah Bantuan Awal Persekolahan, Bantuan Keluarga Malaysia dan Bantuan Musim Tengkujuh.
Semarak UNITI Keluarga Malaysia, mekanisme terbaik satu padu bangsa Malaysia!
SUKM edisi ketujuh berjaya menarik lebih 3,000 pengunjung dan memberi ruang kepada semua untuk berinteraksi dan saling mengenali.
PRU15: Rakyat sambut baik Dasar Keluarga Malaysia - Ilham Centre
Kaji selidik yang dilakukan selama tiga minggu, bermula 20 Oktober hingga 6 November itu dilakukan terhadap 1,211 responden.
Banjir: Ismail Sabri arah semua agensi bantu Keluarga Malaysia
Perdana Menteri mengarahkan semua agensi termasuk Jabatan Kesihatan dan JKM memberi perhatian sepenuhnya kepada usaha membantu Keluarga Malaysia terjejas banjir.
Kerajaan umum pembinaan 700 rumah PPR di Kepala Batas, dijual serendah RM45,000
Inisiatif Keluarga Malaysia yang bernilai RM113 juta itu melibatkan pembinaan 700 unit rumah pangsa empat tingkat di Alor Pongsu, Seberang Perai Utara.
Ekonomi negara semakin pulih hasil toleransi Keluarga Malaysia - PM
Sikap toleransi yang ditonjolkan rakyat dalam Keluarga Malaysia membolehkan ekonomi negara terus bangkit.
Deepavali disambut meriah seperti sebelum pandemik COVID-19
Penganut agama Hindu kini dapat melakukan upacara sembahyang beramai-ramai di kuil dan menganjurkan rumah terbuka.
Bajet 2023: Membina daya tahan ekonomi demi rakyat Malaysia
Menteri Kewangan Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz berkata Bajet 2023 memegang prinsip responsif, responsible dan reformis.
Banjir: Premis awam, sekolah berasrama akan digunakan sebagai PPS
Langkah tersebut sebagai persiapan menghadapi Monsun Timur Laut, dan memastikan keselesaan Keluarga Malaysia jika berdepan bencana kelak.