December 3, 2024
SINGAPORE – Amid one of the most devastating floods in Malaysia that displaced over 100,000 people, two online videos that display resilience and compassion have caught the attention of many netizens.
In one, a university graduate streamed her convocation from what looked like a tent, while another clip showed a group of young men braving rising waters to rescue stranded cats from a partially submerged home.
On Nov 30, TikTok user @pearlia uploaded a clip of herself watching the convocation at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris on a tablet with another woman in a tent. She was in her graduation gown and cap.
The caption read: “Flood victim attends convocation online. Are there others sharing the same fate?”
The video had over 227,000 views and touched the hearts of many.
“She’s so strong and brave,” said a viewer, while another suggested universities hold special ceremonies for flood-affected graduates, saying: “This is a once-in-a-lifetime moment; they deserve it.”
A separate video, posted on TikTok on Dec 1 by user @ffjkento, shows some men rescuing cats from a house while wading through chest-high water. The video was filmed in the Tumpat district of Kelantan, according to its hashtags.
The video shows a man riding a motorcycle through ankle-deep water, before it cuts to another scene of several men rowing through brownish water in a boat. The clip then shows the men rescuing the cats – freeing some from locked cages while picking up others perched on window grilles or on rooftops.
Written in Malay, the video’s caption revealed that the cats belonged to a firefighter who was aiding flood victims and could not return to save them. All the cats survived, thanks to the tireless efforts of the rescuers.
The rescue has been viewed more than 514,000 times, with users praising the men’s selflessness. One said: “Thank you for risking your safety to help these small creatures.”
These stories are set against the backdrop of widespread flooding, which has affected more than 150,000 people across Malaysia and killed seven people.
Intense rainfall, typical of the north-east monsoon season, has flooded low-lying regions in Malaysia, resulting in relentless efforts by emergency services.
Communities have resorted to wading through chest-deep water to seek help or get necessities, as seen in another viral clip of a father braving the flood to buy baby essentials for his family, posted on TikTok on Nov 29.
Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi told Malaysian media on Dec 2 that the number of people evacuated to temporary relief centres across affected places has decreased, but warned people to stay out of the water to avoid waterborne illnesses or animal bites.
Men waded through waist-deep water, pried open cages, and rescued terrified animals clinging to window rods and rooftops. PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM @FFJKENTO/TIKTOK/THE STRAITS TIMES