Abstract:
The flood disaster that took place in Batu Pahat (2013) has drawn a significant public attention as the natural disaster affected large areas and required much effort to restore the original conditions. As a main institution of higher education in Batu Pahat, it is the social responsibility of Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) to assist flood victims, especially by providing manpower for the humanitarian mission. One of the voluntary bodies under Malaysia National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) is SISPA, which is a part of the University?s extra-curricular units. This article discusses the positive impact of involving university students in humanitarian mission, specifically related to this flood disaster. The impact is based on two aspects, namely the social aspect and selfdevelopment aspect. The social aspect involves the contribution towards the flood victims, and the self-development aspect for the students? soft skills cultivation. The discussion covers three main activities of the mission: general restoration, disaster relief supply distribution and post traumatic psychological support for young flood victims. In general, both flood victims and UTHM students have benefited from the humanitarian mission as discussed in this article. The mission helped to alleviate the flood victims? physical and psychological needs, and facilitated a more efficient restoration process of the affected areas. On the other hand, the students who gave a helping hand via SISPA gained various experience and social skills, grooming them to be more socially responsible adults and be prepared for any voluntary public services whenever required.
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