Chinese villagers smoothen Raya travellers’ journey home

Zairul Annuar Zain’s video of the ‘patched up’ back road has since gone viral.

PETALING JAYA: A group of Chinese villagers came to the aid of travellers using back roads to beat the congestion following the end of the Aidilfitri holidays.

Zairul Annuar Zain was using a “rat route” in Ladang Bikam, Perak, while heading south on Saturday night, in hopes of evading the traffic jam on the PLUS highway, Bernama reported.

With several cars also taking the same route, it was not long before the journey got more bumpy because of the bad road conditions.

“It was already 10pm. Suddenly, a vehicle from the opposite direction stopped and asked us to turn back as the cars couldn’t pass because of the hilly, poor road conditions. It meant that we had to turn back and face the traffic congestion,” he said.

Just then, he said, a group of about 15 Chinese men approached the vehicles and told them to stay put and “wait”, puzzling the drivers.

Not long after, they returned with a backhoe to excavate and level the road, ensuring that it was flat enough for the vehicles to pass.

“In just 10 to 15 minutes, they said the road was clear. Otherwise, only four-wheel-drive vehicles would have been able to pass.

“So we continued through the rat route. Within a few kilometres, we managed to reach the main road again before continuing with our journey.

“They could have chosen to sleep. Instead they were willing to take the trouble to help us continue our journey there that night,” said the 47-year-old business adviser, who expressed gratitude for the villagers’ selflessness.

Zairul recorded a video of part of their journey and posted it on social media. It has since gone viral, with many praising the villagers for helping their fellow Malaysians who had gone to their hometowns to celebrate Aidilfitri.

His one regret is not recording the video earlier when the men first approached them.

“I want others to know how I felt. Malaysia has kind-hearted citizens. Despite our different races, we remain united.

“If given a chance, I want to meet with the group who helped us, and thank them again, because on that day I didn’t have the chance to talk to them for long,” he said.