Tsunami

I was in Kuala Terengganu when I received sms about tsunami hitting Japan. The last devastating tsunami took me by surprise, not even knowing what tsunami is. My friends and I were in Kinabatangan, Sabah, at that time and I did think how it would be like if river Kinabatangan flooded. The river level was frighteningly high and the resort we stayed in was just at the edge of the river. News broke when we arrived at KK airport and it didn't sink in yet how much damage the tsunami has done. We learned the enormous impact of tsunami through newspapers and TV news.

I am terribly sorry that the Japanese people have to experience this calamity. The enormity of the disaster is not easy to imagine as we are not there to witness it but I think great loss and suffering occur. The first thing that came to my mind is my friend Sashi and her family. She lives in Niigata city, a harbour and I wondered whether the mountainous waves engulfed the port. So the moment I arrived back from Kuala Terengganu, I sent her an email, fervently praying that she and her family are OK. Thank God she responded immediately assuring me that everyone is OK including her son, Hiro and wife who live in Tokyo. I haven't had any details about the disaster yet from her. I just pray that Malaysians who work and study there are safe and able to send news to their love ones in Malaysia.

Disaster like tsunami is not a joking matter. I felt unhappy by some insensitie comments. Yes, Japan is advanced and high-tech but there are certain thing that's beyond human control. Disaster doesn't choose which country or what religion is being practiced and it doesn't mean the people are bad. So stop being so judging and have more compassion. Let's pray that tsunami does not visit our shores again as a second episode will result in unimaginable destruction.

To the Japanese, may you recover sooner than expected.