Towards the end of 2021, our country was hit by a “once in a century” disaster – the worst flood in the country compared to the 2014-2015 Malaysia floods and the 1971 Kuala Lumpur floods. Torrential downpours lasted for three days brought by a tropical depression on 16 December 2021, causing many states, cities and residential areas in Peninsular Malaysia to be hit by severe floods, with the aftermath continuing for more than two weeks.

When the floods started, our surrounding areas like the city of Klang, Shah Alam, Hulu Langat, were reported with widespread calamity, In response to this calamity, APU’s Integrated Sustainability & Urban Creativity Centre (ISUC) Student Chapter, responded swiftly with a flood relief drive and also extended their helping hands to the floods victims.

According to Ms Abbhirami Sivarajan, the School of Business’ lecturer who works closely with the ISUC Student Chapter in this relief campaign, APU’s students had been working tirelessly from 20 to 23 December, raising funds, donating goods, helping people and volunteering at different places to render timely help. They had given out donations worth RM 5,340 in four days.

On Day-1, in collaboration with Family Mart, the ISUC Student Chapter donated 350 packets of food to the needy at Masjid Al-Madaniah USJ 18; Day-2, students went on to Gurdwara Sahib PJ delivering donation items as well as joining a volunteer programme; Day-3, the team initiated fundraising activities at APU; Day-4, they adjourned to Wisma MBSA Shah Alam, Hope City Church KL, Gurdwara Sahib PJ for relief work.

Yudhishthra S Sugumaran, a Diploma in Information and Communication Technology student and active member of the ISUC Student Chapter, volunteered at the Gurdwara Sahib by helping to load relief items onto the trucks.

“Since the flood incident started, I always wanted to go out and help anyone who was in need. When this opportunity came, I thought this was a chance for me to do so, and I just came,” said Yudhishthra, when he was interviewed on the spot.

With the overall goal to establish an international, innovative, forward-looking and research-oriented world-class think tank comprising of students and academic staff researchers, ISUC Student Chapter is very much a product of its parent-body ideology - “cultivating sustainable, shaping and innovating”. Their quick relief move has very much reflected the quality of ethical global citizens who can actively work in the community to make our planet more peaceful and sustainable. This young generation is indeed very much needed by the new era.