Victims: Let this not happen again

Victims: Let this not happen again

THE evacuation centre in Kampung Melayu Kebun Bunga in Batu Tiga, Shah Alam, was a picture of contrast to the sombre mood at the homes of victims of Sunday's flood.

Outside the multi-purpose hall, a group of people sat under tents put up in the compound. They occasionally broke into laughter only to be interrupted when their cell phones rang. These were men and women who were there to greet visitors, including the VIPs who paid the victims a visit.

Some of them were village officials who, at times, had to dodge the children playing and running around the compound. Inside the hall were women of all ages, mostly the elderly and mothers who needed to care for their babies.

They called for more milk and clothes for their children and even underwear for themselves.
The elderly would burst into tears when they recall what they had lost in the flood.

At lunch-time most of the men folk would turn up after spending the morning cleaning their houses.
Like farmers from paddy fields, they washed off the mud from their pants and cleaned their faces. They looked exhausted.

When asked for an interview, they only had this to say: “all we hope is that we don't have to go through this again. We hope that the authorities put an end to the flood problem in our area.”