Traders in Hulu Langat hoping for aid to restore business

KUALA LUMPUR: Their business was just about to thrive from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic where many of them suffered huge losses, with some forced to close down, following implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO), when disaster struck two days.

Now traders in the Batu 14 area, in Hulu Langat are dumbstruck to having had to bear another huge loss, and this time, due to flood.

A survey by Bernama in the area found the a trail of destruction left by the floods and the shop premises covered in mud.

Owner of a traditional Chinese medicine shop, Chin Lun Shin, 79, who has been doing business in the area for more than 40 years, said the floods this time was worse than the one in 1971.

In 1971, the damage was not this bad. This time, it damaged everything, the cupboards, refrigerators, items in the shop, even the shop roof. The losses I suffered from this flood is huge," he said when met by Bernama.

Due to the huge losses he suffered in the floods, Chin said it would affect preparations for the coming Chinese New Year celebration, which falls on Feb 1 next year.

Another trader, Liew Kwee Lan, 65, a grocery store owner, who has been in business for more than 20 years, expressed the hope for the government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to provide assistance to flood victims who suffered huge losses because of the floods.

A flood victim, Wong Cheng Kuan, 37, also hoped the relevant authorities would also help in cleaning the houses and other premises of the mud left by the flood water, and also financial assistance to help with teh cost of repair of houses that were damaged.

-- BERNAMA