SHAH ALAM – Residents at the Taman Sri Lembayung flats in Seksyen 25, here, are crying out against double standards practised by the authorities towards flood victims in their area.
One of the residents who wished to be known as “Kak Rose”, said neither leaders nor authorities have come in with the necessary aid since the flood waters inundated the ground floors of their flathouses on Saturday.
“For the past three days, no one came to rescue us. Only today (yesterday) an NGO came to deliver cooked food,” she told The Vibes.
Kak Rose, who is in her late 50s, also lamented that electricity and water supply had been cut off since Saturday.
However, only water supply was restored late yesterday evening.
The Taman Sri Lembayung flathouses comprise seven blocks with five floors.
Each block has 84 units accommodating approximately 2,300 residents and is located next to the Sri Muda toll plaza.
According to Kak Rose, the residents are still stranded as the main road leading in and out of their flathouses remains submerged under three metres of muddy floodwaters making it impossible for them to seek help.
Furthermore, there is a retention wall fitted with barbed wire and a monsoon drain that separates the flathouses and the highway.
“Late last night, residents started to get frantic, and we had no choice but to instruct our youth to climb over the wall and cross the monsoon drain to seek help at the toll plaza from passing cars to purchase food and took the opportunity to charge our mobile phones in the public toilet,” she said.
Meanwhile, another resident who only wanted to be known as Nani said that when the flood struck, several residents of Taman Sri Muda in Section 24 Shah Alam fled by crossing the highway to seek shelter with them.
Taman Sri Muda, brutally hit by the flood, is located across the highway of Taman Sri Lembayung.
“On the day the deadly floods happened, we could see the residents (Taman Sri Muda) crossing the highway to seek shelter in our high building structure.
“We had to help them even though we did not know each other. It was a painful sight,” she said.
Nani further echoed Kak Rose’s discontent that no authorities have come forward to help them even though they found the time to make their way to Taman Sri Muda since Saturday.
“‘Bencana ini Allah yang punya kuasa’ (this disaster is within Allah’s power) – yes, it cannot be stopped. However, it should not deter leaders from coming and helping us.
“In certain areas, though flood levels were only up to the knee, aid was extended. So why are we being left out? Why the double standards?” she asked. – The Vibes, December 21, 2021
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