PUCHONG – Kinrara Court residents had to only tackle the recent floods for a few hours before waters receded, but the aftermath was not too different from other affected areas.
Mud remains on the road as residents attempt to restart their previously submerged cars and clear debris.
Rough estimates reveal that each condominium unit on the ground floor suffered at least RM10,000 to RM20,000 in damages, with some suffering more losses.
Just like many other flood victims in the Klang Valley recently, the residents of Kinrara Court had no one else to turn to.
The only form of help that came was through volunteers and NGOs.
Raja Ram, who lived here since the 1990s, managed to rescue sensitive documents and certificates.
Nevertheless, he still suffered around RM10,000 in losses.
His furniture, refrigerator, and washing machine were all damaged in the flood.
“I feel normal at the moment, since I was not the only one who suffered damages.
“Others suffered too, but I don’t feel the pain alone,” Raja told The Vibes when met near his residence.
Raja said only his two sons were at home during the flood and sought the help of their Indonesian neighbours with the authorities nowhere to be seen.
“I don’t feel bad about the government’s lack of response because they probably have other things to do.
“We can’t expect everything from the government, they are doing their part too.
“It’s true we are supposed to help each other because we don’t know how long it would take the government to respond.
“Here, the ground floors are affected, therefore those on the higher levels should take the initiative to help those at the bottom,” Raja added.
"We have to go to the police station, make a police report, then make a photograph (copy). How do we do all that when we have to clear the house?"
— TheVibes.com (@thevibesnews) December 21, 2021
Flood victim Mohana Raj expresses frustration over the redtape he will have to go through to claim RM1,000 from the government. pic.twitter.com/lLhLKzyy96
Meanwhile, another flood victim Kavitha Selvaraju explained that NGOs did arrive and provide food assistance on Saturday after waters receded.
For her, the lack of response by the government disappointed her.
“Response by the government? You see, until now the rubbish is still piled up.
“Maybe this incident will affect the way I vote,” Kavitha said during a brief conversation.
Currently, Kavitha is yet to have completed cleaning her house.
She suffered damages to her furniture, refrigerator and piano, estimating her loss at RM40,000
Kavitha said the RM1,000 assistance from Putrajaya was far from enough with the red tape to apply for it. It is very cumbersome for residents who are struggling to pick up the pieces following the natural disaster.
“They said we need to take pictures and make a police report.
“You must think, we are struggling here, so how to take photos?
“I didn’t even know where my phone was,” she added.
Kinrara Court JMB chairwoman Koh Phoo Choo, fondly known as Aunty Karen, managed to save one of her cars, while two were destroyed.
She said following the floods, Kinrara assemblyman Ng Sze Han had offered to deploy lorries to pick up debris.
“Unfortunately, when I told them the number of lorries I needed, I was informed to contact the Subang Jaya Municipal Council.
“But the council themselves were running short,” she said, adding that what was most worrying for her was helping the residents mitigate losses.
There are 617 units at the apartment complex, with 134 units alone located on the ground floor.
When purchasing insurance previously, she said those on the upper levels refused to consent to have flood insurance.
Given that, she said the RM1,000 assistance for each family affected by floods was far from sufficient.
“RM1,000 is a good gesture by the government. But it can never cover the total losses.
“The gesture also has conditions, like a must police report be made, photos taken and utility bills presented,” she said.
Such requirements, she pointed out, may be tough for residents renting their units, as it would be the tenants that suffer damages, not the owner.
“If they present the utility bill belonging to the landlord, monies meant for tenants would go to the unit owners instead.”
Similarly, a disabled flood victim named Mohana Raj expressed extreme dissatisfaction over the obstacles he has to go through for assistance.
“I am a handicapped person, and when the water was rising no one helped.
“Now we have to do so much, by going to the police station and presenting photos.
“How are we going to do all that? Surely, there’s going to be a long queue there,” Mohana said.
Earlier the Kinrara assemblyman and state executive councillor Ng Sze Han was scheduled to hold a press conference here at Kinrara Court at 8am.
However, his office told The Vibes it has already been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. – The Vibes, December 21, 2021
