Floods hurl hard blow to elderly sisters in Kpg Sg Maong

KUCHING (Feb 23): What was meant to be the start of a blessed month quickly turned into an alarming ordeal for two elderly sisters in Kampung Sungai Maong, which was struck by floods triggered by the Northeast Monsoon.

For Yot Seman, 70, and Rajemah Seman, 83, the situation aggravated their already-challenging circumstances.

“The water (level) began rising at about 6.30am on Friday.

“Initially, it was around two feet (0.6m) high, but by nightfall, it had reached waist level,” recounted Yot.

“I immediately grabbed our belongings with my daughter, who’s eight months pregnant.

“My son was unable to help – he’s been bedridden since the stroke attack in June last year,” she told The Borneo Post when met at the temporary evacuation centre (PPS) of Masjid Darul Istiqlaal on Sunday.

Yot herself is diabetic; the widow has been undergoing three-time weekly dialysis treatment for the past 10 years.

Asked about her hopes, she spoke about the wish for her house to be relocated to higher ground.

“I am afraid something worse might happen if there’s another major flooding.

“The flooring of house was badly damaged by the floodwater.”

Apart from contributions from her children, Yot also receives a small pension from her late husband, who used to be a cook at a local school.

“If there are any parties willing to assist in repairing my house, I would gladly accept it,” she said.

Her sister Rajemah, is also living with diabetes.

Her house, situated very near Yot’s at the riverbank, is in poor condition.

“Whenever it rains, the water seeps into my house because the roof is leaky.

“This time, my kitchen was badly damaged as the floodwater had risen to about six feet (almost 2m),” she said.

Rajemah also said she had applied to several organisations for financial assistance, but had yet to receive any.

“I am often told I am ‘not eligible’; I feel helpless,” she said.

“The officers say I am not eligible for assistance because my children are working, but only one of them has a job as a cleaner,” she added.

In the Friday incident, Kampung Sungai Maong chief Masni Morri said she received an emergency call at around 11.30pm, about the sudden rising of floodwater.

“It (the call) was received after the ‘tarawih’ prayers.

“We then saw the houses inundated, with the floodwater level reaching up to waist level.

“Some villagers were ill; some were bedridden and unable to move.

“With the help from Bomba (Fire and Rescue Department), the Civil Defence Force, and villagers, we transported the bedridden victims to the mosque,” said Masni in a statement, adding that food assistance was distributed by the mosque committee and the local elected representative the following day.

The PPS at Masjid Darul Istiqlaal, which was officially closed at 12.30pm on Sunday (Feb 22), having sheltered a total of 65 victims from 18 families.