KUALA LUMPUR: A restaurant operator experienced an unexpected scare when a cobra appeared in his flooded kitchen.
Recounting the tense moment, Muhammad Shazlly Sulaiman, 34, said the incident occurred while he and his workers were tending to the inundated kitchen before the venomous reptile emerged.
The trader at Jalan Balai Raya, Kampung Bukit Hijau, Jeram, said he had been worried about other venomous creatures like centipedes entering his shop, but had to take the risk and operate as usual.
“I never imagined a cobra would enter due to the stagnant floodwaters since I started operating here nearly a year ago.
“This area consists mostly of eateries, so when floods strike, it indirectly affects business.
“Customers are forced to turn back because they do not want to wade through the stagnant water. What is more worrying is that the weather changes every day, and we fear continuous rain will delay the floodwaters from receding,” he said.
Shazlly did not deny that the drainage system near his shop was poorly maintained and said he had already lodged complaints with the authorities.
He said this was not the first time the area had been hit by stagnant floods, noting that the problem had persisted since 2021, and despite lodging complaints with fellow traders, no action had been taken.
He expressed hope that the drain in front of his shop would be cleared or deepened immediately so customers could visit without having to wade through floodwaters.
Meanwhile, a resident who wished to be known only as Ayu, 40, urged the authorities to resolve the stagnant flood issue promptly.
She said that having lived in the village for over 10 years, she had seen the water take a long time to recede, resulting in an unpleasant stench.