KUALA LUMPUR, April 10 — The brave actions of five Pakistani nationals who waded across a river to assist residents affected by the gas pipeline fire incident in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, not only went viral on social media but also earned them official recognition from the Pakistan High Commission in Malaysia.
The five individuals — Khaista Nawab, 50, Bakht Munir, 37, Amir Nawab, 47, Rafiq Ullah, 25, and Jaafar Ali, 40 — were invited to receive certificates of appreciation presented by a representative of the Pakistan High Commissioner to Malaysia at the embassy yesterday.
Khaista said he and his friends never expected the spontaneous help they offered to be praised and officially acknowledged, as they acted sincerely to assist those in distress.
“We helped because it was the right thing to do as human beings, not for any reward. When we saw the residents across the river panicking, we knew we had to do something,” he said today.
Khaista added that all of them, who hail from Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region, have been living in Malaysia for between seven and 20 years to earn their livings.
Recalling the incident, he said that he and his friends jumped from Sungai Klang's bank at Kampung Sri Aman, Puchong, to assist around 30 residents on the opposite riverbank at Kampung Tengah, who were fleeing from the intense heat caused by the fire.
They carried residents — including children and the elderly — across the river, which was over 40 metres wide and more than 1.8 metres deep, by lifting them on their shoulders through the shallower parts and pushing them while swimming through the deeper sections.
On the day of the incident, all five of them were at their homes near the river as they were still on their Hari Raya Aidilfitri break. Khaista said the first thought that crossed his mind upon seeing the flames, about one kilometre from his house, was to grab his passport and run.
“But then I thought, I cannot run, because on Judgement Day, I will be questioned. We must help others, even if our own lives are at risk.
“So, we swam across the river and returned to the Kampung Sri Aman bank more than five times to rescue all the residents,” he said.
Their act of bravery not only went viral in Malaysia but also caught the attention of fellow Pakistanis living in the country, including Farooq Ahmed, the owner of clothing company Alfaro Sdn Bhd, who decided to reward them with clothing and cash gifts.
He said that the Federal Minister of Pakistan Amir Muqam — who is also a friend — contacted him to convey the pride and appreciation of the Pakistani government for the actions of the five men.
“I was moved to reward them because of their sincerity in helping others in distress. I hope this contribution will help them in their lives here.
“They went viral not only in Malaysia but also in Pakistan, attracting the attention of a minister there,” he said.
The Petronas gas pipeline fire, which occurred at 8.10am on April 1, saw flames reaching more than 30 metres high with temperatures soaring to 1,000°C, and took nearly eight hours to be fully extinguished.
— Bernama
