While some areas in Hatyai in Songkhla Province, Southern Thailand, are slowly recovering from the flood, the relief has ‘unearthed’ a bad habit among some Malaysians there: Littering.
Mohd Amir Faizal, a Malaysian rescue team volunteer in Hatyai, shared what he witnessed as more Malaysians were rescued from the disaster. The scene was not only upsetting but also embarrassing to him.
“Is this how you repay those who have helped you?”
Amir walked around the area, showing the janitors who had to be hired to clean the streets after many Malaysians who were rescued from the flood littered the streets.
He said he had personally told the Malaysian victims to put the litter into the garbage bins, but his words were ignored.
In his 10-minute-long live video on Facebook, Amir showed the large amount of garbage on the street, and it wasn’t just food and beverage packages.
Amir also found a used diaper left on the street, and he was appalled.
“Are you not ashamed? You’ve been helped and rescued, and is this how you repay those who helped you? As a Malaysian, I’m so ashamed.”
Amir also clarified that he was aware that not all Malaysians behave similarly, but those who litter the streets of Hatyai have tarnished the image of Malaysia. He also expressed his regret about not getting the necessary attention from the victims when they needed to listen to him.
“I was giving them instructions about the evacuation process, but they sat at the back and chit-chatted with each other.”
He added that several rescue boats were also damaged during the rescue work.
The downpour in Hatyai that caused an unexpected flood in multiple areas has recently been described as a once-in-every-300-years disaster.
