PENDANG, SEPT 23 – The condition of houses flooded and left without occupants due to moving to evacuation centers, worries the villagers in the Tanah Merah area, Kedah against the threat of burglary.
A resident of Kampung Alor Ali, Ahmad Shafie, 34, said that as a precautionary measure he and some friends took the initiative to patrol using boats in his village and nearby villages.
“It’s been a week that the village area has been flooded and this dreamy flood is not sure when it will recede, it may last up to five more days before receding. So we took the initiative to patrol in the morning and evening. So far the situation seems peaceful and there have been no house burglaries,” he said when met yesterday.
Ahmad said that apart from his village, the patrol using his own boat was also carried out in Kampung Alor Mengkuang and Kampung Tok Pauh.
A resident, Mohd Rashidi Muda, 48, said many residents in the area were moved to several evacuation centers, causing the village to become deserted.
“Sometimes my wife and I go back to see the condition of the house and feed the seven cats left at home,” he said.
Another resident, Muhammad Affendi Mahmud, 30, said that floods in the area usually take a long time to recede because of its low position compared to other areas.
“It’s a long time to wait for the tide to recede and it may be too late for us to go home. When the flood does not recede, worry about damaged items in the house. I didn’t even have time to move the washing machine,” he said. – Named
