KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 29 — The deafening silence is killing Muhammed Khairil Harith Harun as he remains clueless of his family’s well-being in flood-hit Pasir Mas, Kelantan.
The national walker is eager to rush home and rescue his family but the Universiti Putra Malaysia student is aware it will be an uphill task given that road access is now limited.
He has not heard from his father Harun Deris, 63; mother Hamidah Abdul Rahman, 60; and elder brother Noor Haswadi Harun, who is in his early 30s. All of them reside in Kampung Kelar Tok Pukang.
“I can’t reach any of them. I do not know if they are fine or otherwise. I am even fearing for the worst. Right now, I’ve got more questions than answers and it is really depressing,” said a helpless Khairil, 22.
“It’s not just my immediate family. I also can’t reach my extended relatives ... my uncles, aunts and even friends there. I just don’t know what to do.
“I want to go back and search for them but it is impossible for me to do so as all roads leading into Pasir Mas have been closed due to the floods.”
Khairil, who finished eighth in the Asian Race Walking Japan meet in March and competed in the World Cup Race Walking in China two months later, kept in touch with his family daily before floods forced more than 130,000 people in the state to evacuate their homes.
“The last I spoke to my family was last Monday. My dad mentioned water was beginning to rise in our village. I called home the following day but I could not get any one. I am very worried and I miss them a lot,” said Khairil.
He, however, is trying to get past his anxiousness by focusing on training ahead of an upcoming event organised by the Malaysia Athletics Federation next month.
“I train as usual but my heart and mind are with my loved ones in my kampung (village),” he said.
Another national athlete, Muhammad Idris, is also worried sick about his father Zakaria Salleh, 60, who is in Kemaman, Terengganu.
“My dad suffers from kidney problems and is required to undergo dialysis daily. He is safe and is now placed at the Kampung Batu 14 hall. My aunt and mother Kuntom Hassan, are caring for him and they will accompany him to Kemaman hospital for treatment from time to time,” said the 400m sprinter.
“But I’m still worried about him.”
Idris said his family and friends in Kemaman remain cautious as they brace for another possible wave.
