Floods: Comedian Harith Iskander helps rescue woman and baby from submerged shophouse

KUALA LUMPUR: A mother and her baby were rescued by comedian Harith Iskander after being on the upper floor of a shophouse for two nights due to flooding.

He said that his charitable initiative known as The Hope Branch had purchased boats and mobilised a team of volunteers when he heard that the Kg Baru Hicom in Shah Alam was still submerged underwater.

“It was an unbelievable sight – pitch dark, water up to 10 feet in some places, cars and vans submerged underwater.

“A local shop owner guided our boat to the home where mummy and baby had been stuck and we managed to get them to safety.

You can see the poor baby with bags under her eyes, but she was so good and calm – I hope she sees this one day and realises what an amazing little girl she is.

To be honest, I couldn’t believe that this was Malaysia in 2021. How could this happen in the Klang Valley?” he said in a Facebook post late Monday (Dec 20) night.

Harith also described the flooding situation as similar to an “apocalypse scene”.

“It’s 3.12am Dec 20, 2021 in Kg Baru Hicom, Shah Alam. It’s an eerie sight.

“Homes submerged underwater, livelihoods destroyed.

“Residents trapped on upper floors waiting for aid – that is not coming fast enough.

“The Hope Branch bought boats and rafts and we went in (along with other rakyat jelata) with food and water to deliver to hundreds of people – some 2km in along the road (which is now a river).

Kudos to all the hundreds of normal everyday rakyat who also showed up.. just because they wanted to help,” said Harith.

He said that the solidarity shown by hundreds of Malaysians who showed up with food and supplies, just to help one another had warmed his heart.

“Last night, I witnessed #kitajagakita. We continue to raise funds to be able to support more people whose lives have been destroyed by the floods,” he said.