TSUNAMI AFTERMATH - SHOW OF COMPASSION

A GROUP of Malaysian artistes responded to a call beyond duty to lend moral support to the tsunami victims in Kota Kuala Muda in Kedah last week.

More than 37 artistes joined Persatuan Karyawan Malaysia (Malaysian Artistes Association) and shelved all prior appointments to be by the victims’ side.

In the Karyawan team were Datuk Sarimah Ahmad, Aziz Sattar, Norlia Ghani, Datuk M. Daud Kilau, Ahmad Jais, Nash (of Lefthanded), Azizul Khamis, Salwa Abdul Rahman, Liza Abdullah, Ibnor Riza, Zami (Pak Uda of Pi Mai Pi Mai fame), Yusni Jaafar, Kuswadinata, Betty Banafe, Yasmin Hani, Tony Eusoff, Noniswara, Zahid, Bob, Khai, Sare, Nurul and Zalee of Redang.

The two-day trip, initiated by Karyawan’s honorary chairman Zaienal Abidin Omar, took off last Wednesday around 11am, in a double-decker coach. We reached our destination after a six-hour journey and made our first stop at City Plaza Complex in Alor Star.

There were cheers as excited fans gathered and waved eagerly at their favourite artistes. Though tired, Norlia said the sight of enthusiastic fans more than made up for all the exhaustion.

This is no social visit, emphasised Zaienal. In fact, the charitable artistes came all the way to help out in the fund-raising exercise spearheaded by Kedah Puteri Umno.

The plight of the tsunami victims had touched the hearts of the artistes and some of the veterans made the first move by donating generously to the fund. Helping to set the right mood were deejays Merduwati and Azizul Khamis who also encouraged the public to donate.

Taking the cue, Bob of Akademi Fantasia fame and Nash went around collecting donations from passers-by, shoppers and curious onlookers.

“It doesn’t matter how much we give, it’s the noble intention that counts,” said Nash.

It was worth all the effort as they collected RM4,650 within an hour. The contributions were handed over to Kedah Puteri Umno.

On the second day, the group headed for Yawata Supermarket in Jitra for another round of fund collection. We were accompanied by a dozen outriders to our next stop. This time around, the collection amounted to RM1,200.

The event’s main sponsor, Fattuwa Group of Companies, later handed over a mock cheque of RM10,000 to the Kubang Pasu Member of Parliament who is also the Parliament Secretary to the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Mohd Johari Baharum, for the tsunami fund.

Almost everyone unanimously agreed when Zaienal suggested we check out the tsunami-hit Kota Kuala Muda before going to the relief centre, to see how the villagers were coping. A different mood set in as we reached the place.

The smell of mud and the sight of wrecked houses was too much for Bob to stomach. He broke down upon seeing the mud-filled houses and the damage caused by the waves.

“I can’t believe what I am seeing now. The destruction is almost unbelievable,” said Yasmin who hosts Astro’s Muzik@Ria.

Singer Salwa said she had never seen so much mud in her life. “There are layers of mud and we could smell it almost everywhere. I just can’t believe the houses were completely destroyed,” said Salwa.

Even the hunk, Tony, could not describe how he felt. The sight of the wreckage and rotting wood around him took him by surprise.

“I am so glad I came. I didn’t know that it was this bad. The destruction is just beyond imagination,” said Tony.

Actress Betty said this was the worst disaster she had seen in her life. “It’s so sad to think they are homeless now,” she said.

After spending about an hour at the site, we stopped at SK Kota Kuala Muda, the largest relief centre in Kedah. In spite of their sufferings and the trauma that they had gone through, the tsunami victims were in high spirits. They even cheered when they saw the familiar faces of the artistes.

“Thank you for coming. I never dreamed that you all would come all the way to see us,” said one excited makcik (aunty) when she spotted Sarimah, Norlia and Aziz Sattar.

For that brief moment, their sorrows were forgotten as they asked for autographs and those with cameras clicked away happily.

Tony and Syed Mahdi even played sepak takraw with the young boys while Nash cooed to the babies around him. At one point, the single father showed his paternal instinct by bathing a baby who had almost lost his life to the tsunami waves while Khai later joined him and took turns to give the baby’s brother a good scrub.

In the hall, there were heaps of donated clothes, boxes of instant noodles, disposable diapers and rice, among other things.

By the time the group left at about 8pm, everyone looked tired and drained. Despite the long journey ahead and the many stopovers, no one complained.

“Though we are tired, we have accomplished what we came for, which is to give moral support to the tsunami victims,” said Sarimah.

ZIEMAN joined a group of Malaysian artistes who visited tsunami victims in Kedah. PUBLISHED 13/1/2005