Are we needed during Tsunami, plane crash or le Tour de Langkawi ? Some people need help but others don't. People who refuses help may fall under one of of the categories, either they do not know that ham radio can help or they think they are well equipped and efficient enough to combat with any form of turbulances. There are cases where ham radio operators were called for help and there were instances where helps were refused.

We feel we are there to help but if it is not required our present might cause problems to them. Some of the organizations have their own system of reportings and disseminating of  informations. The police may be the first to receive informations reported by the front line unit.

However some of these organizations would call the ham radio operators to standby or ask for direct help. Radio clubs like MARES and ASTRA have been called before to assist the authorities.

In Indonesia the role of  ORARI in contributing communication support was very clear. The telephone lines were destroyed and handphones demanded much resources to handle athe bundance of traffics. ORARI was fast to assign callsigns to hamradio stations specialized for communication purposes. Only licence hams are allowed to operate.

Our desire to help must follow a certain ethics. We should not indulge in areas where we are not needed.

Whenever we give our hands we should not show arrogance. If any other people come on to help, we should not chase or scold them as if we are the only helpers. We don't claim to be heroes.

Sometimes we observed the so-called helpers were giving commentaries like sports commentators.

Malaysia's aid to Aceh did not call for ham's help. MERCY and other organizations went to Aceh at the early period of  Tsunami. The first ham to run functionally was 9M2WJat Aceh's site. Later ham radio link to Malaysia did not provide any stretegic function anymore. Though 9M2WJ forgot to ask for the local callsign, it provided some useful communications with the base station.

Our zeal to contribute should be checked first. If we are not needed our presence would be very unpleasant to some people.

Always ask ourselves, " Are we needed ? " - by 9M2AR