KUALA KANGSAR, July 17 — The after-effects of last December’s flood disaster are still being felt by the people of Sayong here.

Sayong was one of the badly hit areas, with hundreds of villagers displaced and thousands of ringgit worth of belongings and properties damaged. 

This has put a damper on the festive mood for people like Abdul Talib Kulop Abdullah, 59, who estimated that he lost nearly RM10,000 of belongings from his home in Kampung Sayong Tebing during the floods.

“Everything was washed away or damaged, and some of the walls of the house were badly cracked.

“We don’t have enough tables or chairs for guests. That is why we set up a pavilion tent in front of the house for our friends and relatives,” he said.

Abdul Talib and his wife, Habibah Mat Yusof, 45, were displaced for two weeks during the floods, which affected six districts in Perak — Kuala Kangsar, Hulu Perak, Hilir Perak, Perak Tengah, Kerian and Manjung.

Habibah said the losses affected their budget for Hari Raya.

“The money for decorations and cleaning up the house has been spent on repairing and replacing what we lost in the floods,” she said.

Another resident, Abdul Halim Zahilan, 58, said his family was forced to celebrate Hari Raya in their own homes, instead of at his mother’s house in Kampung Sayong Tebing.

He said his house, only 200 metres away from his mother’s, was also affected by the flooding.

“There was a lot of damage, so we decided not to gather there this year. Even my house was badly hit, and I lost my TV set, five cupboards and three beds.

“But I will try to carry on the spirit of Raya to the best that I can. We can still observe some of the other traditions like cooking delicacies and gathering with our loved ones,” he said as he arranged a row of bamboo to cook lemang outside his home.

Resident Kamarul Baharin Shaarom, 52, said the rising cost of living and the declining economy also contributed to the low-key Raya atmosphere. 

“The waters rose to dangerous heights, but we must remember that the economy also went down. If you ask me, both are equally responsible for the quiet Raya atmosphere,” he said.