KUALA BERANG: After enduring floods almost every northeast monsoon season, a homemaker in Kampung Paya Besar here has adopted a permanent solution by keeping most of her belongings and furniture on the upper floor of her house throughout the year.
Musfirah Sidik, 37, said only a few items, including wooden chairs for guests and a cooking stove, were kept downstairs for use during the dry season, while beds, wardrobes and other belongings remained upstairs.
“I have lived in this house since marrying my husband, Husni Nadawi Mohd Nawi, 40, in 2013.
“We experience floods every year, and I grew tired of having to move our belongings repeatedly. So my husband and I decided to keep everything upstairs permanently.
“Moreover, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer two years ago and am no longer physically strong enough to move furniture and clean the house every time it floods,” she told Bernama at her home in Kampung Paya Besar.
The mother of six, aged between two and 11, said her house was flooded every rainy season, with water levels reaching up to three metres because it is located about 1km from Sungai Berang.
However, she said her family rarely moved to a temporary relief centre as the upper floor was equipped with basic necessities, including a kitchen and toilet, allowing them to remain there throughout the flood season.
“However, if the flooding becomes too severe, we will move to the centre on the advice of security personnel, as we did in 2024 when the water rose rapidly and we became concerned for our safety,” she said.
Meanwhile, Sasuhaida Sulaiman, 42, of Kampung Laut near Kuala Terengganu, said years of dealing with annual floods had taught her and her husband to prepare bags containing clothes and important documents in advance in case they needed to evacuate at short notice.
The mother of three, aged between 12 and 19, said her family had to move to a relief centre every year because their house was in a low-lying area near a swamp.
“As our house is flooded every year, we place wooden blocks under electrical appliances such as the washing machine and refrigerator to raise them above floor level in preparation for floods.
“However, the monsoon season started slightly later this year. It began raining last night, but so far, the water has only reached the area outside our house and has not entered.
“The rain has also not been continuous, allowing the water to recede,” she said.
Another resident, Mohd Norzilan Ismail, 50, of Taman Desa Tanjung Damai near Gong Badak in Kuala Nerus, said he had prepared important documents and rented a four-wheel-drive vehicle to move electrical appliances and furniture to safety in anticipation of flooding.
“I previously installed a wooden barrier in front of my house to prevent water from entering, but it proved ineffective when heavy rain continued for days and water levels rose.
“Since moving here in 2012, my house has flooded almost every year. Sometimes the water only reaches ankle or knee level, but the worst flooding was in 2014, when the house was submerged.
“To prevent more belongings from being damaged, I have arranged with a friend to use a four-wheel-drive vehicle to move them. For now, the rain appears manageable. If the rain continues for another 24 hours, I will move my belongings to a safe place,” he said.
Yesterday, the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) issued a continuous rain warning for several areas in Kelantan, Pahang and Sabah, as well as the whole of Terengganu, until Wednesday.