By Zakiah Senin
In July 2020, I joined fellow volunteers in a food distribution programme at the Orang Asli settlement of Pos Lenjang, Kuala Lipis, Pahang. The journey to the village, in three four-wheel-drive vehicles, was smooth despite two hours of driving on red dirt roads — thanks to good weather.
But the return trip was far more challenging. Rain had fallen the night before, turning the red earth into slick, muddy terrain. Most of the journey was downhill. Two vehicles were in excellent condition, but the third had nearly bald tyres.
Several times, the vehicle failed to follow the steering. Turn left — it veered right. Turn right — it veered left. We spun more than once.
The tyres couldn’t grip the slippery mud. On the descent, the brakes felt useless. We were almost breathless, hearts pounding.
The most terrifying moment came as we sped downhill and suddenly faced a massive bulldozer blocking three-quarters of the road. “Help us, O God,” we whispered.
One wrong move, and we’d either crash into the bulldozer or flip into the embankment. Only a quarter of the road was left to manoeuvre.
Even with careful control, the vehicle kept sliding. We fell silent. No one breathed. Only God knew what was in our hearts. The driver’s anxiety must have been tenfold.
This was where calmness, skill, and strength were most needed. This was where the sweeper vehicle behind us played its vital role — relaying clear, steady instructions through the walkie-talkie. And this was where we placed our deepest hope in God, praying nothing would go wrong.
Alhamdulillah, we made it. We arrived safely in Kuala Lumpur.
The greatest lesson? Never take your vehicle’s condition lightly, no matter the journey ahead. I can’t imagine what would’ve happened if our driver hadn’t been skilled — if he had lost control, lost focus, or simply given up.
Nor can I imagine if our sweeper hadn’t been experienced enough to guide us through such a tense and critical moment.
I am truly grateful that God protected us, and perhaps wanted us to learn from our mistakes.
Such is life. As the Malay proverb goes, “Bertumpu dulu barulah melompat”— we must prepare well before taking any leap.
To achieve any goal, it’s not enough to simply want it — we must know how. And that knowing begins with knowledge. Knowledge is the backbone of desire. It includes both specialized and professional understanding, and even spiritual wisdom — so that what we pursue remains aligned with divine guidance.
In other words, the more complete our knowledge, the more rational our judgment, the sharper our strategy, the stronger our actions, and the fuller our soul.
As for ability, it is the movement powered by the right ingredients — competence, readiness, and heart—to bring our purpose to life.
(My thoughts on volunteerism — values and principles close to my heart — are also shared in my book “Suka Rela Sukar Lawan”, published by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka in 2024.) Enquiries can be directed to zakiahsenin@gmail.com)
Zakiah Senin is a steadfast volunteer of Yayasan SALAM Malaysia, an NGO that has dedicated to volunteerism in Malaysia for the last 30 years.