Among those who visited Gurdwara Sahib Petaling Jaya to help cook was former religious affairs minister Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri, who earlier sent a clear message to social media critics.

“There is no problem regarding eating dishes prepared by non-Muslims, so long as it does not contain their slaughtered animals. This applies to both food aid and open houses,” he said on Twitter yesterday.

FMT visited Gurdwara Sahib Petaling Jaya to find Malays, Chinese and Indians working hand-in-hand with Sikhs to prepare thousands of vegetarian food packs for flood victims stranded in Shah Alam, Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur.

With such a diverse group working together to prepare and cook food, the camaraderie fostered as a result of the crisis was clear to see.

The concept of a “Malaysian Family” – a popular refrain of the Ismail Sabri Yaakob government – was so clearly highlighted by all those who had gathered to help, without the need for government fanfare or assistance.

For Suhaimi Saad, 37, being able to help the flood victims was all the satisfaction he needed.

“I enjoy mixing with the Sikh community here. Even though this is a Gurdwara Sahib where the majority are Sikhs, they accept me as one of their own,” Suhaimi said.

Lim Ze Min, 23, called on fellow youths to do whatever it takes to help the thousands of flood victims who are stranded and in need.

“I didn’t tell anyone (I was coming here), but I know there are some constraints where some parents are afraid their children will be infected with Covid-19, or that they do not have the physical or mental capabilities or the time, but sharing information about the relief efforts is enough,” she said.

Gurdwara Sahib Petaling Jaya president Awtar Singh said the food bank project had received “extraordinary” support from the multiracial community.

“We are very proud that the Malaysian community, the Malays, Chinese and Indians, are all here to help us. This is the spirit of the ‘Malaysian Family’.

“The support has been unexpected. It continues to grow and we expect more people will be sending essential goods to help victims,” he said.

According to Awtar, the food bank project was launched on Dec 18 as an immediate response to the floods in the Klang Valley, which hit Shah Alam particularly badly.

Rajvinder Singh, 37, one of those involved in the preparation of food, said volunteers started to cook as early as 4am and continued until 9pm.

He said that as at 6pm yesterday, volunteers had sent 15,780 food packages to areas affected by the floods.

“We don’t choose where we send food, so long as we get calls for help, we will provide,” he said.

The devastating floods that descended upon the country over the weekend have so far claimed 27 lives – 20 in Selangor and the rest in Pahang – the highest death toll since the floods of 2014.