SHAH ALAM – The road heading to Taman Sri Muda here bears signs of the weekend’s flood disaster, strewn with new potholes, mud, debris, and abandoned vehicles.
As one drives carefully on the Kesas Highway, the scars the floods left are evidently near the Kg Baru Hicom and Kemuning areas.
Some road users – who abandoned their vehicles on Saturday to wade through the floodwaters for safety – have returned to their cars to try to get them going, while others resorted to wait for tow trucks.
At 5pm today, Jalan Bukit Kemuning – one of the roads leading to the rescue centre in Taman Sri Muda – was still knee-deep in floodwaters.
Only four-wheel-drive vehicles, lorries, and residents returning home on foot are able to pass through.
One such couple – who want to be known only as Husnah and Syazwan – was initially stranded in Batu Tiga here. They lost their car and motorcycle to the floods, and planned to wade through the floodwaters in Taman Sri Muda today to return home.
People were seen wading through the floods to get home. pic.twitter.com/3fwpgwx871
— TheVibes.com (@thevibesnews) December 20, 2021
“The first storey of our home is inundated, while some of my family members are stuck on the second floor. They are waiting for help in the dark, surviving on food passed to them by rescuers in boats.
“For now, rescuers are prioritising those in single-storey houses because there are not enough boats,” Husnah said.
Throughout Taman Sri Muda, despite Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s assurances, scenes of devastation are still unfolding.
Those just rescued from their homes can be seen sitting by the road taking a break, while some are lining up for hot meals as they haven’t had much to eat over the past three days.
Rescue operations by volunteers are taking place along Jalan Gagah 25/99, and four-wheel-drive vehicles were spotted entering and exiting as they navigate through crowds of victims.
Resident Mohammad Nordin, who was seen ferrying his son on an inflatable boat, expressed strong dissatisfaction with the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA).
A Sri Muda resident telling reporter @arjunmohanwho about the help he got from the police, army and NGOs after the flood but have yet to see any Shah Alam City Council personnel pic.twitter.com/Hp7xcouy4b
— TheVibes.com (@thevibesnews) December 20, 2021
“Since yesterday, there were no signs of MBSA. Only the Fire and Rescue Department and police were there, MBSA did not even put up a tent for us.
“Boats were brought in by NGOs (non-governmental organisations), police, and the army.”
Another victim who expressed disappointment and anger towards the authorities is Megala Murthi, who had hunkered down at a shoplot next to a police station with around 30 others.
She said despite screams for help, there was no help from police.
“Only the public came to help, and some NGOs. There were seven families inside the shoplot, about 30 of us,” Megala said, adding that she was finally rescued at 3am today.
Although she finally managed to find refuge as of 5pm, there are Taman Sri Muda residents still sheltering on their second floors.
“We cannot get out, we have been stuck here for three days,” Muhammad Shawfiq Fauzi spoke to The Vibes from the balcony of his home.
He said rescue operations are prioritising victims stuck in single-storey houses, as well the sick and elderly.
"Rescuers here are prioritising residents who are stuck in single-storey houses while those stranded in double- and triple-storey houses are being sent food first," a Sri Muda resident, who has been stuck for three days, tells The Vibes. pic.twitter.com/l5QOqaiU8s
— TheVibes.com (@thevibesnews) December 20, 2021
So far, rescuers have provided food and basic necessities to Shawfiq and his family.
“The ones sending food are volunteers. In fact, they are from this neighbourhood. Others, like the Fire and Rescue Department, are prioritising emergency cases.” – The Vibes, December 20, 2021
