Hari Korban (Sacrificial day) in Bukit Antarabangsa
The residents of Bukit Antarabangsa largely do not know that they are living in the hills of death. We don’t know the actual risk that we face. The government knows. They spent RM6.5 million to do the Ampang Hulu Klang Landslide Risk study. Now the report is being kept in a strong room and labeled as “RAHSIA”.
By Dr. Rafick
1. I penned down this article after my “Raya Korban” (aka Raya Haji) prayers at the new mosque of Bukit Antarabangsa which is located within a walking distance from my house. This is the second Raya Korban prayers held at the mosque. The first being 2 days after the December 6th 2008 landslide tragedy. At that time the mosque was not ready but having no place to organize a prayer, local residents decided to organize it at the almost completed mosque. By the Islamic Calendar, I believe we just celebrate the 1st anniversary of the landslide where five people “terkorban” (sacrificed).
2. Islamic history shows that the celebration of Hari Raya Kurban transcends from the story of Prophet Ibrahim submitted to the will of Allah where he was asked to sacrifice his son Ismail. It was a test of faith. At the very last moment just before the act of sacrifice took place, Allah SWT decreed that it should not be done. This event in history gave birth to Eid-ul Adha – Festival of Sacrifice, where Muslims all over the world remember the tough sacrifice Ibrahim had to make and was rewarded by Allah by sparing Ismail and making him an example for us to follow in our lives – when we choose to submit to His will, all will ends well.
3. Coming back to the modern day history, the five people who died in the December 6th, 2008 actually “had been sacrificed (terkorban)”. They died in vain. Their death was unnecessary. They had been sacrificed by the Government who hide information from the people. In reality, if it had not been for the long weekend preceding Raya Haji, the death toll could have easily been 100. Many would not agree with me that the government is responsible for the sacrificial of five souls.
4. There are ample evidences on the public domain that shows that the government has some indication that the landslide can occurs anytime. They did not act on time. They withhold the information from the people. They did not tell the people the risk that they faced. This led to the five being sacrificed. Some would disagree and says that slide was caused by a burst pipe, the rain and etc. If we analyzed deep enough, the sacrificed could have been averted if the people knows the risk and forced the authority to act. Actually Allah has given the indications to prevent the sacrificed. It is some irresponsible decision makers that cause the death. They have blood on their hands.
5. Moving forward a year after the tragedy, has the government change its attitude? Has the people change or they have forgotten about the whole event. I know the local community is organizing a one year anniversary to remind people of the tragedy. Sometimes, I asked myself whether it is necessary to organize such an event. Wouldn’t it better to use the resources to remind the government that they are responsible for the death? Why cry and ask Allah to forgive the death and place them on the 7th heaven and then do nothing else? It is as if, we want more sacrifice to take place.
