Deposit payment for homestay turns donation for owner

The former Finance Secretary of the Congress of Union of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) said his homestay, which is popular among anglers, was fully booked until April next year.

"Most customers who have made reservations and paid deposit do not want me to refund them when I cancelled their bookings after telling them that my homestay was damaged by the floods.

"Alhamdulillah, there is some good behind this big test (flood) , which is the first since this homestay began operating almost eight years ago," he said when met by Bernama here.

Several areas in the Sepang district were hit by floods last week when the water in Sungai Langat overflowed following continuous heavy rain since Dec 17.

Ja'apar, 64, said water from Sungai Langat began to enter the compound of his house and the homestay last Saturday.

"It was about 11 am (on Dec 18) and the water was rising fast, forcing me and my family to evacuate. The water had risen to above our head," said the father of nine.

He said his house, the homestay and all the furniture and electrical appliances were damaged in the floods, as well as vehicles and 80 free range chickens which he reared in his house compound.

Despite the losses he suffered, Ja'apar said it was a test from Allah and submitted to His will.

"The flood (Dec 18) was the second major disaster I experienced after the last one 50 years ago," he added.

Ja'apar, who was in the civil service for 15 years, said he hoped to repair the homestay, especially for his regular customers, some of them having returned 20 times.

"The concrete structure of the homestay is still strong... It will take about a month to repair and put in operation again," he added.

On the clean-up after the floods, he said, various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) offered to help.

"We also have university students helping to clean the houses and today about 40 members of the Malaysian Armed Forces came to help. I would like to thank them for helping to clean my house and homestay," he added.

On the damaged furniture, he said, there were placed in an area for KDEB Waste Management Sdn Bhd to take them to the landfill.