Protective measures: Thai workers constructing an embankment wall (circled above in red) along the Rantau Panjang-Sungai Golok border to protect against floods. Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain says the embankment wall will help ensure the efficiency of the General Operations Force’s flood preparation efforts. — Bernama
PASIR MAS: Most of the population around Rantau Panjang has begun making final preparations and taking early steps to face the northeast monsoon, which started on Nov 5.
This involves packing and storing important items in elevated places, building rafts, and constructing special pathways using planks in high areas to evacuate family members to safer locations if the flood situation worsens.
These initiatives are being undertaken to prevent significant losses, as previous floods in the area caused considerable damage to villagers’ belongings.
Food stall owner Rosnani Mat Jenin, 29, who lives in Kampung Lubuk Jong, said her area floods every year as her home is situated near Sungai Golok, which forms part of the border with Thailand.
“I have lived in this village for over a decade, and every time there is a flood, my house gets submerged due to the overflow of Sungai Golok.
“Therefore, the residents of this village have no choice but to move furniture, mattresses, electronics and important documents to higher ground,” he told Bernama here.
Fazrein Shah Hussin, 18, a student at a higher education institution who lives in the same village, also helped his father lift electronics to a specially built hut in a higher area.
“I came back during my semester break to help my parents pack and gather items like washing machines, televisions and others, place all of them in boxes.
“When the flood occurs, my parents only need to evacuate and take essential items to the temporary relief centre,” he said.
A labourer, Rosdi Abdullah, 62, who lives in Kampung Lubuk Jong Hilir, said when flooding occurs, he and his brother would build a special pathway from planks to help evacuate their family members.
“My house is located by Sungai Golok and the area where I live is low-lying, causing the lower part of the house to be flooded up to the waist.
“Therefore, I built a special 100m pathway supported by metal to evacuate my family members in the event of a flood,” he said, adding that it took two weeks to complete the pathway.
Rosdi said he also built a special hut to store all important items and electronics in a higher area.
Ornamental bird seller Mohamad Hirwan Faizal, 42, who lives in Kampung Tersang, took the initiative to build a raft house.
“If the flood submerges the roof of the house, we are less worried because our belongings will be safe.”
Mohamad Hirwan said when flooding occurs, he places all his ornamental birds, including chickens and geese, on a special raft with a roof designed just for the animals.
