Youths of all races help out at PJ gurdwara in aid of flood victims

SHOCKED by the growing desperation of those caught in the floods in Klang Valley over the weekend, a group of Sikh youths decided to launch a food bank programme on Sunday at Gurdwara Sahib Petaling Jaya (GSPJ).

The initiative took off and garnered the support of thousands of Malaysians to step up and help flood victims.

Youths of all races helping to pack food and hygiene products at the Gurdwara Sahib Petaling Jaya for flood victims in Klang Valley.

As of yesterday morning, they managed to distribute over 36,000 vegetarian food packs to flood victims in Batang Berjuntai, Kuala Langat, Taman Sri Muda, Kapar and Pulau Carey, with new locations to be added soon.

The GSPJ youth team led by Jagmeet Singh Madhanjit, 28, and assisted by seniors from the gurdwara, are busy preparing hot meals, collecting hygiene supplies and urging the public to donate cleaning supplies and manpower to help the victims.

Jagmeet said the most amazing part of the voluntary work was the diversity of the youths and commitment of the volunteers, some of whom returned to help after having just five hours of sleep.

“This morning, I woke up wondering if we would still have any volunteers but was surprised to see youths from universities, those on semester breaks as well as those on year-end leave and company rest day just walking into our gurdwara to offer help.

Muslim students came to help at Gurdwara Sahib Petaling Jaya (GSPJ).

“We are thankful and touched by the great humanitarian spirit,” he said when met yesterday.

An Indonesian student studying at Universiti Teknologi MARA Shah Alam, Suciaty Ramdhani, 25, came together with seven of her peers to help.

“We saw the post online asking for volunteers and we decided to come and help.

“What I saw was that no matter how different our backgrounds are, we all share the same goal -- to help others. This is a noble deed,” said Sucianty, who was helping to sort out toiletries for the victims.

Debbie Liew, 24, a restaurant manager decided to help on her rest day.

She too came with her friend and was impressed by the good coordination and delegation of tasks by the volunteers at the gurdwara.

“This is my first time helping at the gurdwara and I do not feel awkward as I feel welcomed,” she said.

Undergraduate Yudhishthra S. Sugumaran, 20, said he came with his lecturer to donate supplies such as mineral water and decided to stay and lend a helping hand.

Volunteers at the gurdwara were from a diverse background such as Debbie Liew who is a Chinese and it was her first time entering a gurdwara.

“I was helping to unload the donations from the lorries or van that came. I think more guys should come and help out with these more physically demanding tasks.”

Jagmeet said the gurdwara food bank expanded its function to collect other aids like hygiene products such as adult and baby diapers and sanitary pads.

He said more volunteers would be needed in the days to come to help clean the victims’ houses.

Those wanting to contribute cash donations can bank into GSPJ Welfare Account Maybank 514169141318.

Volunteers and those who wish to donate dry food items can contact 010-217 4556 or visit Gurdwara Sahib Petaling Jaya Sikh Temple, Jalan Utara, &, Lorong Utara (B), Section 52, 46860 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.