COMMENT | Share this Christmas with those in need
COMMENT | The spirit of Christmas is giving. The recent torrential rains and flooding have created a whirlpool of urgent needs. It is an opportune time for Malaysians to reach out and help one another.
And reach out they did, no thanks to the government that is being inundated with brickbats and buffeted by criticisms of evident failures in its response. Citizens prove humanity supersedes public policies of prejudice.
Instead of splashing on one another in lavish Christmas dining and gifts, people can demonstrate the true meaning of the festive season by sacrificing and sharing with those in desperate need.
Use the money and more to be spent on Christmas on flood victims instead. Keep Christmas basic to its real...
COMMENT | The spirit of Christmas is giving. The recent torrential rains and flooding have created a whirlpool of urgent needs. It is an opportune time for Malaysians to reach out and help one another.
And reach out they did, no thanks to the government that is being inundated with brickbats and buffeted by criticisms of evident failures in its response. Citizens prove humanity supersedes public policies of prejudice.
Instead of splashing on one another in lavish Christmas dining and gifts, people can demonstrate the true meaning of the festive season by sacrificing and sharing with those in desperate need.
Use the money and more to be spent on Christmas on flood victims instead. Keep Christmas basic to its real significance often lost in the commercialisation and secularisation of the birth of Jesus Christ.
“Joy to the world,” the angels announced to the shepherds. The birth of Jesus brought hope to the world. Yet he spent Christmas in a manger among common folks and Magi, the three wise men. God taught truth and love, man manufactured hate, but those who love have overcome.
There was no feasting, no revelry, only a quiet joy and inner peace among all present. Silent night, holy night is lost today among those who think Christmas is revelling, noisy party time.
The spirit of Christmas is love and this perhaps is its most powerful theme. Love has many facets and what should predominate is agape love. The sacrificial love is unconditional. Such love will save Malaysia, the politically hijacked nation.
In a season of peace and goodwill, our prayers are for those who have lost everything including loved ones and are suffering. In a country where survival means fending for yourself, this is now a tall order, to stay economically viable.
The Covid-19 menace and now the floods have brought many to breaking point. They can't earn a living with their equipment or amenities destroyed. They have lost their cars, homes and businesses. Many citizens and organisations are starting charities to help the needy.
The government has to act fast to stop the spread of water-borne diseases, provide emergency housing and food and seriously look into the threat of climate change and the impact of natural disasters. Then there are the financial and economic headaches. That's what governments do - cure everyone's headaches beyond their control.
The infrastructure needs an overhaul. Drainage must be a priority. And stopping the destruction of “sponges” - the rainforests - is a call that must be heeded. Flooding in urban areas is the result of deforestation further upstream. The causes are shocking. Be sure hanky-panky business is behind them.
The silver lining in these tumultuous times wrought by climate change and natural disasters is the Malaysian spirit of helping one another. Nature when destructive (abetted by questionable human conduct) does not discriminate and reports of ordinary citizens helping others without discrimination are proof of underlying national unity.
The government and its failed national unity campaigns have much to learn from ordinary Malaysians in times of disaster.
Testing times
Another urgent need exposed is the need for emergency services as what exists in Australia and advanced countries. For example, in Perth, if a house loses a roof in a storm, the state emergency services will quickly respond and send a team to make a temporary roof of tarpaulin and make the house safe. Volunteers respond whenever a need arises regardless of the time of day or night.
The government ought to spend more money and effort in governing for ordinary people and spend less on unnecessary renovations or palatial buildings for the already privileged.
Ordinary Malaysians are at the end of their wits living in such testing times. They need a government that inspires hope and competence in delivering much-needed help to them. In fact, governments come to the fore during national disasters. Disastrously, it is not evident in Malaysia from social media narratives. They don't want to be like the cops in movies who turn up after the danger is over.
The floods are a national disaster, a national emergency. The government has to act fast because for many it may be a matter of life and death. Acts of sacrifice and bravery by ordinary citizens reflect the true spirit of the people. The government was caught unprepared.
This Christmas, sacrifice and share with those in urgent need. Help them cope and offer material aid and psychological and emotional assistance where possible. Don't wait for others, especially the government, to help them.
The rains will stop, the floodwaters recede and those affected by the disaster will need help to rebuild. If we sacrifice and share with those in need to tide them over a transitional trauma, the government has to resolve the tough problems of deforestation, drainage, development and deployment of emergency services.
The floods have exposed what is seriously wrong with governance, not just with the incumbent government. A politician seen cleaning the floors of a flooded home is itself a disaster. Leaders plan, organise, lead and execute through others. They don't do the things others do.
Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the victims of the recent devastating floods. Our prayers are for Malaysia and the government in these tumultuous times.
This Christmas is the time to love your neighbours and give. God bless Malaysia.
STEVE OH believes Christmas is the time for Malaysians to excel in sharing with those in need and avoid overindulgence. The endemic flooding requires more giving than ever.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
