GGGE6293

CURRENT TRENDS IN LANGUAGE TEACHING RESEARCH

GROUP WORK:
THEME: HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT
TOPIC: ORAL HISTORY TEXT

Task 1: Transcription of Interview

LECTURER

DR. AZLINA ABDUL AZIZ

PREPARED BY: GROUP 3

KALSUM BINTI MOHAMED P106109

VILOGINI A/P CHANDRA SEGARAN P105815

PRIYADHARISHINI A/P PONNAIAH P106116

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Transcription of Interview
Semi-structured Interview with Puan Salbiah binti Kasmin (An NGO Frontline under
Malaysian Relief Agency during COVID-19 Pandemic)
Interviewer: Kalsum binti Mohamed

Question : Assalamualaikum WBT, Puan Salbiah. Can you please tell me a little bit
about yourself?
Respondent : Wa’alaikumusalam WBT. You know me well, aren’t you? (Giggle). Well,
my full name is Salbiah binti Kasmin. I am native here, Parit Kechil Sungai
Bunyi. I just retired as an English teacher last month at the age of 58. I am a
single mother with 6 children. The youngest is 16 years old. She is here now
because of the MCO. Three of my children are married and I have six
grandchildren, alhamdulillah.
Question : What is the name of the NGO you volunteered, Puan?
Respondent : It is Malaysian Relief Agency. The short form is MRA.
Question : When did you start joining it?
Respondent : Hmm..okay. Actually, I started joining this NGO in 2018 during the fasting
month of Ramadan. My daughter, Ainul, suggested this because at that
moment, there was no volunteer in Pontian District. So, with the help of
some colleagues from my former schools, I accepted to be a volunteer and
the coordinator for Pontian District.
Question : Fascinating Puan. May I know why did you choose to be an NGO
volunteer?
Respondent : (Giggle) This is a tough question. Well, hmmm, what can I say? Hmm,
okay, I think it is because of personal life experience. Being born in a poor
family, I know well the feeling of people who need help. I always wish that
when I was young. So, when I was offered help to further my studies, I felt
so happy and I promised myself that someday I will help other people too.
Honesty, I am who I am now because of the kind-hearted person who helped
me when I was young. Just like the MRA slogan, ‘The best man is he who
is best to mankind’, I want to do my best for mankind too.
Question : So amazing Puan. Now I want to ask questions regarding the world
pandemic Covid-19. First question, when the government announced the
implementation of the MCO in March 2020, what was your reaction?

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Respondent : Hmm, okay. Well, just like everyone else, I was in shocked and was in
dilemma too. I wondered, will the Movement Control Order be over in two
weeks or will it be continued. What will happen if it is continued? Many
things ran wild in my mind.
Question : Same mutual feelings. Next question, how did you feel when the NGO,
Malaysian Relief Agency, was selected to be in the front line?
Respondent : Honestly, I felt so excited. Excited because I have got the opportunity to get
involved as a front line and I could go around helping people even though
others could not go out. It built up my spirit to help more people. After all,
the best man is he who is best to mankind. Many were worried including my
family members but I took precaution. I don’t fear the covid-19 because as
the head of the family, I would still have to go out to get the essential things
for my own family.
Question : How does your family react when you volunteered to be part of the NGO for
this COVID-19 pandemic?
Respondent (Chuckle) Well, hmm, actually five of my children were against it. They
didn’t allow me because for them I was unfit to go around helping people
based on my age. It was in the end of March and they said that I would be
retiring in end of October, so I shouldn’t risk myself. They wanted me to
just stay at home. I know that they were worried about me and that thought I
would be easily infected. They looked at me as an old woman who couldn’t
do much. (chuckle) Five of them were against me except one daughter,
Ainul. She is also in the same NGO who lives in Tangkak. She supported
me and encouraged me. She even motivated me to do what I wished to do
since young, helping people in need. She was the one who brought me into
this MRA in 2018. She had full confident that I could do this during the
COVID-19 pandemic. I did it and I am still doing it. (smiled)
Question : That is so inspiring, Puan. So, as one of the NGO frontliners during the
COVID-19 pandemic, what did you do?
Respondent : Well, in end of March, as a coordinator, I made plan and made arrangement
for the help MRA could offer to the needy. I made name list of people who
deserved the essential things together with my team members. The list
became longer because there were many people who lost income due to the
Movement Control Order. I made sure all volunteers under me were well
informed about the safety precaution and how to deal with people when they

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 delivered the essential things. We distributed essential things for the needy
in whole Pontian District covering all four zones. Now, we extended help to
cancer patients and Disabled persons too.

Question : May I know, what were the safety precaution that you took throughout your
volunteerism?
Respondent : Hmmm, safety precaution. Well, I always follow the SOP such as washing
hands regularly, using hand sanitizers before and after handing the essential
things. I also took supplements like Vitamin C, Calcium, Magnesium and
multivitamins. One more, I always use the Ceragem V3 bed to increase the
immune system in my body as a precaution. This Ceragem V3 also helps in
relaxing my body and releasing stress. I bought one. Very useful. You
should get one too. (Giggle)
Question : (Giggle) Someday, I will. Now, next question is were there any specific rule
codes such as curfews and dress code, to meet the victims of Covid or needy
person? If yes, what were the specific rule codes?
Respondent : Yes, of course. All volunteers must wear mask and must use the hand
sanitizer. We have to maintain distance while delivering the essential things
and while taking photos for evidence. No handshaking at all and cannot
meet the victims for more 5 minutes.
Question : Wonderful. Now, I would like to ask some personal experiences as the
frontliner. Were you affected by the Covid-19? If yes, how did that happen?
Respondent : No, alhamdulillah. All praises to Allah SWT. Prayers, supplement, and
Ceragem V3 helped a lot. May all of us are free from this Covid-19.
Question : What did you learn about volunteering in this current pandemic crisis?
Respondent : It taught me that humanity is more important that anything else. Sort of an
awareness and acceptance which increased the positive energy in myself.
This pandemic showed me the reality of human attitude. I am really thankful
to Allah SWT that I’ve got a permanent job and handsome salary. Health is
really a wealth to possess.
Question : What do you think is your greatest strength?
Respondent : Greatest strength? Hmm, well, I think the effect of being born in poverty
and got help from a kind person at that time was my greatest strength. It was
a satisfaction feeling, like I was able to return the favour that I’v got by

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 helping more people in need now.

Question : How does it, I mean the strength, help you in your volunteer service?
Respondent : As a teacher, we are trained to help the pupils in their education, right? We
followed the Maslow’s theory; always fulfil the basic needs first. So, when I
was given the opportunity to help people in a bigger scale, it comes
naturally to me together with that strength.
Question : That’s impressive, Puan. My last but not least question. Being a volunteer,
have you experienced any unappreciated service? If yes, what were they and
why?
Respondent : Happy to know it is the last question, but a tough one. (Giggle)
Unappreciated service. Hmm, sadly the answer is a yes. According to the
MRA policy, one house will get one pack of essential things. I experienced
the unappreciated service, when my team and I went to a fishermen village
to distribute the essential things. It happened that there were three families
in a house. They expected three packs of essential things when I gave them
just one pack. They argued with us. One of them was quite harsh and rude.
They tried to frighten me by saying that they wanted to make a report.
Actually, it was sort of misunderstanding. They should know that MRA is
an NGO. As an NGO, we can give the essential things to anyone. It was
solved by explaining to them about the policy and I told them that MRA will
give them more if MRA gets more donations in future.
Closure : Oh my, that is really sad. As you said Puan, this pandemic showed the
reality of human’s attitude. Thank you so much, Puan Salbiah for your time
and cooperation. I really appreciate it. May Allah SWT bless you with good
health and happiness.
Respondent : You’re welcome, Kalsum. Sharing is caring and the best man is he who is
best to mankind(Giggle). I hope this help you in your Masters. All the best
and do not forget to share a copy of the Oral History Text as memento of
this interview with you. (smile)
Closure : Sure, I will. Thank you again, Puan.

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