Retiree has been preparing for flood over 40 years

PONTIAN: After having to confront floods since 1980, a senior citizen in Kampung Sri Gambut, here is prepared for the worst in this annual occurrence.

Pensioner Ramin Kassim, 71, said all valuables such as electronics and furniture are placed in a safe place in the corner of the house.

"Every year there will be floods, in the past, it was not up to the level to evacuate to a PPS (temporary relief centre), but now the water is up to waist level and it's not safe in the house anymore.

"This year alone, the area was flooded for the third time. I wish to shift but this is my family house and I have a responsibility to take care of it," he told Bernama when met at his home today.

Ramin said his income as a rubber tapper was also affected considering floods happened twice in a month.

"Fortunately, I have a pension, if I depend entirely on my income from tapping rubber, I will lose my source of income," he said, hoping that the authorities would upgrade the drainage system and other initiatives to overcome the situation.

Also experiencing a similar fate is housewife Marwiah Jamin, 66, who is tired of facing the situation given her advancing age and deteriorating health.

"When you get older, your knees also hurt. It's really painful to move and clean the house after the flood recedes several times a year," she said when met at the PPS at Sekolah Kebangsaan Melayu Raya, Pekan Nenas here.

A total of 17 victims involving four families were placed in the PPS following the floods that hit the area starting yesterday afternoon.

A Bernama survey in Kampung Sri Gambut today found that four houses located near a river were still flooded with water up to knee level and the weather was cloudy.

-- BERNAMA