KOTA BARU, July 14 — While Hari Raya is just around the corner, the one room transit house where Mustapha Ibrahim, 73, lives appears to be devoid of the festive mood.

His spartanly furnished house with its walls made of plywood in Kampung Karangan, Kuala Krai, is actually a temporary shelter provided by the authorities after his house and belongings were washed away by the devastating floods of December 2014.

He has no financial means to rebuild his house and is now awaiting for the authorities build him a permanent home.     

Nonetheless, Mustapha and his wife Mek Esah Awang Kechik, 75, are thankful that they still have a roof over their head and the transit home will be the place where their children and their families will congregate for this Hari Raya.

Mustapha, who has been residing in the village located close to Sungai Lebir for more than 40 years, admitted that this Hari Raya will certainly be a subdued one. However, he remains hopeful that the permanent home promised to him will be ready soon.

A better tomorrow

However, just 30km away, it is just the opposite for Che Fatimah Che Lah, 29, of Kampung Panjang, Gual Ipoh, Tanah Merah, who too lost her abode in the deluge.

Unlike Mustapha who is still at a loss, Che Fatimah and her family are happy for the fact that they will be celebrating Hari Raya for the first time in their new permanent home built for them by the government.

Though Che Fatimah could not afford to equip the house with furniture and electrical appliances, she is thankful for the fact she now has a decent house where her family could congregate for Hari Raya.  

The brick and mortar house has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen and hall and is comfortable enough to accommodate Che Fatimah’s family of five.   

However, the family remains haunted by the deluge last December that washed away or destroyed all their precious belongings - electrical appliances, furniture and even clothing.

The trail of destruction that followed after Sungai Lebir, Sungai Nenggiri and Sungai Kelantan burst their banks is evident till today at many of the settlements in Gua Musang, Kuala Krai and Tanah Merah. Seven months have passed but the sight of ruin serves as a grim reminder of how ravaging the flood must have been.

A brief survey conducted by Bernama at Kampung Karangan and Manek Urai Lama both in Kuala Krai, found many haunting images of abandoned houses with many reduced to rubbles and their unkempt surroundings. The occupants of the affected homes like Mustapha have moved to the transit homes.

Getting the houses ready

State Executive Councillor for the Local Government, Housing, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Fattah Mahmood said up to July 2, a total of 220 permanent homes have been completed by the federal and state government, and NGOs.

“A total of 822 homes are still in the pre-building stage while 560 under construction with 80 homes expected to be ready before Hari Raya,” he said during a media briefing here recently.

The number of evacuees who still remain under tents totalled 55 families, namely 35 families in Kampung Baru Pahi and eight in Kuala Stong, Kemubu, Kuala Krai and 12 families in Bandar Utama Gua Musang.

These families have been offered a place at the transit homes or the National Service Camps until a permanent solution is found but they preferred to remain where they are.

Help forthcoming

Dabong State Assemblyman Datuk Ramzi Abdul Rahman rubbished claims by certain quarters that the federal government is dragging its feet in providing the promised home for these flood victims.

He pointed out the federal government is taking the efforts to build permanent homes to all of the 1,827 families who lost their home in the deluge.

“As for the Kelantanese Diaspora who will be returning to their affected villages to celebrate Aidilfitri, they can see for themselves the efforts taken by the government and other parties to alleviate the burden of the flood victims,” he said.

Apart from the government, corporate entities like AmBank Group sponsored RM200 each for 70 people made up of single mothers, children and the disabled from Kampung Pasir Era in Kuala Krai to buy new clothing for Hari Raya.

“These charitable effort is part of Ambank Group to help the affected people celebrate Hari Raya,” said Senior Vice President cum Group Communication and Marketing Head Syed Anuar Syed Ali.

A recipient, Mohd Ariffudin Ramli, 13, noted he was grateful for being selected to join the aid programme.

“This year I can wear new apparel like my counterparts elsewhere during Hari Raya. Last year even before the floods I had to make do with what ever I had due to financial constraints,” he said adding that even the few belongings that he had including the clothing was washed away with his house in the December 2014 flood.

Despite of the adversities, Hari Raya brings cheers for all the flood victims in one way or another. — Bernama