American couple recall workers’ harsh plight

GEORGE TOWN: An American couple living near the Tanjung Bungah project recalls when the area was hit by floods last month.

Jesse and Sarah Rinkenberger said the roofs of the foreign workers’ shacks were blown off during the huge storm on Sept 15.

“I still remember them desperately trying to fix the roof in the rain.  

“They live near our house and it’s really disheartening to see them living in such conditions.

“Their employer should have put them in a decent place,” said Sarah, 39, when met at the landslide site yesterday.

Jesse, 41, a managing director of a private company, said it was really sad to learn of Saturday’s tragedy, which claimed 11 lives.

The Rinkenbergers, who speak fluent Bahasa Malaysia, have been living in Penang for more than 10 years.