Brothers share unforgettable experiences of ferrying villagers during floods

The one incident which the brothers, Wan Mohd Faizal Wan Ibrahim, 37, and Wan Azif, 57, considered the most unusual happened in 2014 when they first started offering their transportation services to villagers.

"To ferry individuals or deliver food is normal but the experience of ferrying a coffin is unreal but we did it because it is in our nature to help," Wan Mohd Faizal related to Bernama.

Recounting their initiative to help the residents of Kampung Bukit Kuin since yesterday, Wan Mohd Faizal said this time the village was cut off when the one-kilometre route to the village was flooded and became impassable.

He said he and his brother had been offering their services since six years ago to help stranded residents obtain their daily supply of essential items like food, disposable diapers and other items.

Wan Mohd Faizal said they use a fibreglass boat and an outboard engine to assist flood victims while complying with standard operating procedures (SOPs), including wearing face masks and safety jackets to prevent untoward incidents.

According to Wan Mohd Faizal, who works as a mechanic, he and his brother help ferry the villagers from 7 am until 10 pm depending on the weather. And they also charge a small fee to cover fuel costs.

"We can ferry up to six passengers for a trip but if the weather is not good, we will only limit to three passengers," he said.

For Muhammad Azrul Azlin, 23, the services provided by Wan Mohd Faizal and Wan Azif helped him get to Kampung Bukit Kuin to assist his parents and his two-year-old child after their home was flooded.

"I waited here for 20 minutes for their service. I wanted to see for myself how my parents were and help in any way that I can besides bringing home my child who was with them,"Azrul who lives in Taman Impian, here, said.

Meanwhile, lorry driver Syed Aminul Hafiz Syed Abdullah, 34, said he voluntarily offered his help to Kampung Belukar Maju and Kampung Kurnia residents by offering his vehicle to carry flood victims and their possessions, including motorcycles, to a safer location.

Even though his house was flooded up to his waist, Syed Aminul chose to help his neighbours from the village, especially the senior citizens.

"I pitied them, especially the aged. So my wife and I decided to offer our help in a way we know and started to work as early as 7 am. We fetch and send them to the temporary relief centre," he added.