But Sandie barely managed to get the name of the Rela man who was the only one kind enough to help when his motorcycle broke down leaving him stranded 10km from home.
Sandie, 40, was headed to his father’s house at a village in Tuaran from his home at Kampung Damat in Tamparuli, some 10km away, when the motorcycle seized up.
Fortunately, it was only a 500m walk to Tuaran town from where he had stopped at about 9pm on May 2. He hoped someone could lend him their phone so he could call his wife to pick him up as his own device had run out of power.
But everyone he asked either turned him down or ignored him. Some even laughed at his predicament.
Sandie was resigned to walking home when he stumbled on the Rela personnel, the ninth person he had met that night.
“I nearly did not ask him for help but I tried anyway and he immediately told me to use his phone. He only had about RM2 left of credit.
“After speaking to my wife, I had to leave in a hurry because she only knew to pick me up at a certain spot and I never got a chance to express my gratitude,” he said.
Fortunately, the Rela man’s number was on his wife’s phone so he topped up the man’s credit the following day.
“I called him to tell him so but he repeatedly said I didn’t have to do that. After a short conversation, we said goodbye and that was that,” Sandie said.
He has since shared his experience on Facebook and the posting garnered more than 2,000 likes, with many praising the Rela man’s kindness.
That is also when Sandie found out the person’s name could be Asrul after someone commented on his posting.
“The experience has taught me that there are kind and good people ready to help at a moment’s notice regardless of who you are. That’s why I shared what I went through over social media, to give people hope.
“The best part was he did not hesitate to help me.”
Despite having thanked the man over the phone, Sandie is still determined to meet the “Samaritan”.
“I am going to see him one day and thank him personally. People can say it was a small gesture from him but to me it’s significant because many things could have happened if I were to walk home that night,” he said.