TELUK INTAN, Nov 9 — As floodwaters rose around their homes, two families in Hilir Perak faced an urgent challenge — getting their vulnerable loved ones to safety before the situation worsened.
For Mahani Zakaria, 75, protecting her 41-year-old son with disabilities and two orphaned grandchildren mattered far more than saving her belongings when floodwaters began entering her home in Kampung Batu 10, Changkat Jong, several days ago.
Mahani, who has lived in the house since she was 14, said she noticed the water rising at about 7 pm and immediately began moving essential belongings to higher ground.
By 1 am, floodwaters had reached knee level inside her home, prompting her to call the Fire and Rescue Department for assistance.
She and her family were evacuated to the temporary relief centre at the Teluk Intan Municipal Council (MPTI) Rest House Hall at about 2 am.
“I had already packed and moved our important belongings to higher places because I could see the water rising that evening. When it started entering the house, I called the fire department to rescue us,” she told Bernama at the relief centre today.
But the floods are not Mahani’s only concern. The single mother said her ageing house was in poor condition, with a leaking roof, but financial constraints had prevented her from carrying out repairs.
Unemployed, she relies entirely on monthly assistance from the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO) and the Social Welfare Department (JKM) received by her son to support the family.
“I don’t ask for much. I just hope my house can be repaired so I can continue looking after my son and grandchildren,” she said.
For 15-year-old Rizwan Hakimi Faizul, the priority was equally clear when floods struck his family’s home in Ladang Moccis — ensuring the safety of his bedridden grandmother, Maria Abu Bakar, 73, who has been paralysed and unable to speak following a stroke in 2010.
Rizwan, a GIATMARA student in Negeri Sembilan, said he was asleep at about 8 am when his mother woke him as floodwaters rose to shoulder level around their home.
“Our first priority was our grandmother because she is completely paralysed and cannot speak. We raised her bed using pieces of wood to keep her above the floodwaters. Only after making sure she was safe did we think about our belongings,” he said.
The family spent about 20 to 30 minutes gathering essential items before waiting more than two hours for Civil Defence Force (APM) personnel to arrive.
Maria was subsequently evacuated by ambulance to the MPTI Rest House Hall relief centre.
Rizwan admitted that caring for his grandmother as the water continued to rise was particularly challenging, but her safety remained the family’s overriding concern.
This was the family’s second experience of flooding, having previously been affected on Nov 24 last year.
Seven family members, including Maria, are now staying at the relief centre.
Meanwhile, a total of 424 flood victims from 125 families in Hilir Perak were housed at two relief centres as of noon today.
Hilir Perak police chief ACP Chua Kok Lian said 136 evacuees from 39 families were at the MPTI Langkap Hall, while another 288 from 86 families were at the MPTI Rest House Hall.
He said the Langkap centre opened at 10 am on Nov 6, followed by the Rest House Hall at 10 pm the same day.
The affected areas include Kampung Batu 9 Changkat Jong, Kampung Batu 11½ Jalan Bidor, Kampung Batu 8 Changkat Jong, Kampung Batu 7½ Jalan Changkat Jong (FELCRA), Ladang Moccis and Kampung Batu 10 Changkat Jong.
Chua said the disaster response operations involved APM, JKM, the People’s Volunteer Corps (RELA), the police, the Fire and Rescue Department, the Hilir Perak District and Land Office, and MPTI. — Bernama
