By TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE, SOCIAL ACTIVIST
KOTA KINABALU: As Malaysians come together today to celebrate our 69th National Day, I believe we should also pause for a moment and spare a thought for the victims of the devastating floods and landslides in Nepal and Tibet.
The scale of this tragedy is deeply distressing. Hundreds of lives have been lost and thousands of people remain missing following the catastrophic flooding triggered by a glacier collapse in the Himalayan region.
Entire communities have been devastated, homes and infrastructure swept away, and many families are now waiting anxiously for news of their loved ones.
On a day when we celebrate our own freedom, peace and security, we must not forget that there are families elsewhere who are facing unimaginable grief and uncertainty.
My deepest condolences go to the families who have lost their loved ones, and my thoughts are with those still missing, the survivors and the rescue personnel working under extremely difficult conditions.
I welcome Malaysia’s decision to contribute US$1 million in humanitarian assistance and the readiness of our Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) to assist in search-and-rescue operations.
This is a meaningful expression of Malaysia’s humanitarian spirit and our responsibility as a member of the international community.
However, given the magnitude of this disaster, the international community must also come together quickly and in a coordinated manner.
There are several urgent areas where assistance is needed:
1. Search and rescue must remain the immediate priority. Countries with specialised disaster-response teams, search dogs, drones, life-detection equipment and technical expertise should make these capabilities available, subject to the requests and coordination of the affected countries.
2. Medical and humanitarian assistance must be rapidly mobilised. Emergency medical teams, medicines, clean water, food, temporary shelters and sanitation facilities will be essential to prevent further loss of life and disease outbreaks.
3. Assistance in identifying victims is equally important. With so many people missing, international expertise in DNA identification, forensic services and the proper preservation of remains can provide some measure of closure to grieving families.
4. Communication and access must be restored. Damaged roads, bridges, telecommunications and other infrastructure are major obstacles to rescue and relief operations. International technical assistance can help reopen access to isolated communities.
5. The international community should support recovery and rebuilding after the immediate emergency. This tragedy has destroyed homes, livelihoods and critical infrastructure. Nepal and affected communities will require assistance well beyond the search-and-rescue phase.
6. We must also learn from this tragedy. The increasing risks associated with glacier instability, flash floods and other climate-related hazards underline the importance of early-warning systems, disaster preparedness, hazard mapping and regional information-sharing.
For Malaysia, our response should not end with sending assistance. We should also strengthen our own preparedness for natural disasters and continue sharing our expertise in disaster management and search and rescue with countries that need our help.
On this Merdeka Day, let us celebrate Malaysia with gratitude, but let us also demonstrate the values that make a nation truly great — compassion, humanity, solidarity and willingness to help those in need.
Our independence gives us the freedom to build a better Malaysia. But our humanity reminds us that we also have a responsibility to stand with others when disaster strikes.
May the victims of the Nepal–Tibet disaster rest in peace, may those still missing be found, and may strength and courage be given to their families and to all those involved in the rescue and relief efforts.
Selamat Hari Kebangsaan ke-69. Let us celebrate Merdeka with gratitude — and with compassion for those who are suffering.
