Video of children frolicking in dirty flood water sparks outrage; parents don’t seem to care

WHEN life gives you lemons, you make lemonades. It’s all about turning a tough situation into an opportunity.

Nevertheless, not all lemons can be turned into lemonades. The adage needs to be taken with a pinch of salt. Take for example, a community that decided to turn the flood into a place for recreational swimming.

Anyone can point out how unhygienic flood water can be, mingling with the sewer, drain, and not forgetting waste material from animals and humans.

But ignorance is bliss as can be seen in a video post on X by netizen @bckupacc99 where the kids were seen having a ball-of-a-time in the water.

The video can also be found at: https://x.com/bckupacc99/status/1994652780641096187?s=20

More shocking was the fact that their parents and guardian did nothing to stop them, but instead, participated in it.

What made it worse was the fact that the video was accompanied by an uplifting song, suggesting that perhaps, they were actually having fun in a theme park.

“Yucks,” said netizen @amirulnaim914, and for good reason. Another netizen pointed out that these people may perceive the water to be clean since it was fronting the mosque.

On another note, how dirty exactly is flood water? Perhaps an article from the website Johs Hopskins University will better bring this into perspective.

According to the article, floodwater may contain hazardous household waste such as bleach, antifreeze, weed killers and drain cleaners.

This is not to forget, medical waste like soiled dressings, bodily fluids, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices.

Nearby industrial waste will further introduce paints, acids, bases, radioactive materials and heavy metal solutions into the water.

Readers will immediately note that a swim in the flood does not parallel a swim at Sunway Lagoon. 

“When heavy rainfall hits an area that is experiencing drought, pollutants such as pesticides, automobile fluids, and fertilizers that have accumulated on the ground are flushed in high concentrations into the water,” it added.

In short, people should never dive into flood water unless they are looking to improve their immune system. —  Focus Malaysia

Flood nightmare in Songkhla: Son preserves mother’s body in refrigerator while awaiting rescue

 

A SON had no choice but to keep his mother’s body in a refrigerator after she tragically drowned when their home was submerged by flooding.

Reports from Sanook indicate that heavy rainfall affecting Songkhla province for several days caused the flooding to hit the family’s neighbourhood on 21 November.

Floodwaters reportedly reached about 1.8 metres, completely engulfing the house and several surrounding properties.

The woman, believed to be in her 80s, was unable to escape due to limited mobility and her inability to swim.

Witnesses said she tried to hold onto furniture inside the house but was swept away by the strong current.

The victim’s son, trapped alongside two neighbours, chose to place her body in a refrigerator to slow decomposition while waiting for rescue personnel.

The report notes that the refrigerator was secured and allowed to float within the house to prevent the body from being washed away.

This dire situation lasted nearly three days until rescue teams reached the home on 24 November using boats.

When the rescuers arrived, the elderly woman’s body remained in the refrigerator, while her daughter was found in a severely weakened state, suffering from exhaustion and trauma.

The daughter was taken for medical care, and the mother’s body was handed over to authorities for proper handling. — Focus Malaysia

Party island to piety island? Tourists flee as PAS tightens grip on Langkawi, claims columnist

 

LANGKAWI, once proudly called the “Jewel of Kedah”, is losing its shine, and veteran Sarawak columnist Francis Paul Siah squarely points the finger at the conservative policies of PAS, which has governed Kedah since 2023.

In his latest column for the English edition of Sin Chew Daily, Siah writes that the island he once loved for its relaxed, duty-free, cosmopolitan vibe now feels neglected and overly moralistic.

He cites widespread complaints about fading infrastructure, over-commercialisation, and most controversially, the chilling effect of PAS-led enforcement on dress codes and alcohol.

“I’m not sure if PAS people understand that alcohol is not just about lifestyle. It’s a significant revenue driver, especially for international tourists,” he said.

“Restrictions or negative publicity about alcohol could deter high-spending tourists, affecting hotels, restaurants and bars,” Siah added.

According to him, news of “tourist-unfriendly” rules, whether or not they are fully enforced, spreads quickly, especially via social media. For budget-conscious or image-conscious travellers, the risk of being hassled or judged may be enough to choose other destinations.

Siah recalls the public spat between federal Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing and Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, where Tiong accused local authorities of harassing tourists over shorts and alcohol purchases. Sanusi dismissed the claims as unfounded.

“Part of Langkawi’s charm was its party-friendly holiday feel,” Siah argues.

The columnist warns that while PAS insists it is protecting a certain values, its approach risks killing the golden goose that has made Langkawi one of Malaysia’s top revenue earners. — Focus Malaysia

Amidst the storm of flood news, several poor puppies stole the hearts of netizens

 

HUMAN or animal, none are untouched by the monsoon season that has already left many stranded in the flood, and many more, homeless, wet and cold.

And while we are bombarded by numerous news about people being evacuated, a story stands apart all of them with four legs.

The post on X by netizen @MirulAm05674851 highlighted the plight of several puppies which were out in the cold, not abandoned but very much hungry.

The puppies could be seen clinging to each other while a good samaritan had an umbrella propped above them.

According to the post, the mother was still present. However, it is obvious that a mother dog can do only so much to feed so many hungry puppies.

The netizen has since appealed to the good hearted people out there to give these poor souls a forever home.

Another netizen by the name of @hidayahazdi said she saw an auntie giving them food in the morning. Regardless, they were still shivering in the cold.

“Please someone took them they’re quite gentle soul. I work near there so I frequently give them chicken and meat from my lunch box,” said @HuSutoka.

Then there was @KyaTapioca suggesting that people contact an NGO to help with the rescue.

Netizen @MirulAm05674851 continued, stating that the puppies were still very small and that they do not have teeth. 

“They have been in the rain for the past few and they seems to be in cold. Would really like to keep the but we stay in high raise and already have dogs which don’t mix well either others,” she added.

She claimed the puppies were located at Kajang near lotus Kajang (Jalan Impian Mahkota 1).

The winner of the most inappropriate comment, perhaps, goes to @heinze940401:

Thankfully, this heartbreaking story did not end on a sad note. Browsing through the comments, we discovered that a good hearted person has found space in his heart to accept the babies. On another note, this story also reminds us to be grateful for the things we have and take for granted.

When the challenges in our lives appear insurmountable, draw our attention instead to those who are suffering on a higher level. Few realise the privilege of having a roof on their head until it rains heavily. — Focus Malaysia

LFL slams MACC for summoning lawyer, citing intimidation and breach of privilege

 

THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has ignited fierce criticism after summoning prominent lawyer Mahajoth Singh for questioning in its investigation into businessman Albert Tei, who was arrested alongside former Anwar Ibrahim aide Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin on bribery allegations.

Rights group Lawyers For Liberty (LFL) slammed the move as  unlawful and an act of blatant intimidation of a lawyer acting for his client.

LFL chairman Zaid Malek accused the MACC of trampling solicitor-client privilege and demanded Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki immediately withdraw the summons.

“The MACC’s statutory mandate is to investigate corruption. It is not to interrogate counsel,” Zaid said, warning that such actions erode public trust in the justice system.

The case centres on claims that Tei paid bribes to Shamsul Iskandar, the Hang Tuah Jaya MP, to recover funds allegedly channelled earlier to several Sabah assemblymen. Both men are currently under a six-day MACC remand.

Separately, MACC strongly denied allegations that its officers pointed a firearm at Tei’s head during the dawn raid on his home.

Azam Baki confirmed a police report had been lodged against those spreading the claim, describing it as slander intended to disrupt the probe. Tei’s wife, identified only as Lee, earlier alleged officers used excessive force and prevented the couple’s lawyer from meeting Tei.

The summons of Mahajoth Singh has revived calls for stronger legal safeguards and clearer boundaries on MACC powers when lawyer-client confidentiality is at stake. — Focus Malaysia