TEMERLOH, June 29 — The famed Temerloh patin industry is in utter despair with breeders and restaurant owners lamenting they have yet to get back on their feet after floods ruined their livelihood last December.

Pahang River overflowed on December 24 after continuous rain, causing strong currents to displace or damage fish cages and fishing equipment.

Checks at the riverside village of Kampung Tebal revealed damaged cages abandoned by their owners.

Some in the food and beverage business along the river said they had to make do with whatever patin that was left so they could remain open.

Muhd Ramzan Ayub, 30, who breeds patin and tilapia, said he suffered nearly RM80,000 in losses with 12 cages washed away while restaurant owner Nurhidayah Zulkifli, 26, said her business was badly affected after the source of her specialty dish was gone.

Their pleas for help are similar to that of the people in Taman Negara where people are unable to pick up the pieces since the floods.

Kampung Tebal residents spoke of the difficulties during and after the floods, sharing their grievances of not receiving enough aid to cover the losses.

Chenor, 25km from Temerloh, is also one of the worst-hit areas.

The businesses and homes at the riverside town were submerged in water, leaving nothing behind but mud and broken hearts.

Shop owner Osman Alif, 62, who lives in a two-storey wooden shop barely 500m away from Pahang River, said his losses of RM12,000 were too much to bear.

He said years of hard work to buy and collect kitchen appliances for his restaurant was gone in 24 hours.

He also lost everything in his house, which is above his restaurant.

Army retiree Tengku Hussain Tengku Ahmad, 50, said his plan to expose the villagers to the Internet was lost after his cybercafe was destroyed. 

Having saved up RM300,000 to open the business, he lost all when the floods damaged the computers, laptops and other gadgets.

Osman and Tengku Hussain said SME Corporation Malaysia’s offer to aid villagers by asking them to buy items first and be reimbursed later was not helpful as they did not have money to begin with.

They are thus asking for financial aid from the government.