Elevated houses at Ru'RASA Kampung Temat Hulu in Pekan, Pahang - Photos: Bernama
Every time the day turned cloudy or it rained heavily, Zainumar Abu Bakar worried about floods.
The wooden house she lived in since 2007 under the Desa Al-Ayubi Hardcore Poor Housing Project (PPRT) in Kampung Temai Hulu, Pekan, was often inundated due to nearby Sungai Pahang overflowing.
The situation, which went on for a decade, caused the 43-year-old to have sleepless nights, especially during the monsoon season.
Zainumar feared the floods would sweep away her family’s only shelter.
However, the housewife’s fate changed in 2023 when she, along with 11 other families in the PPRT, received a house worth RM100,000 from the Sultan of Pahang, who was then Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.
The Rumah Rakyat Al-Sultan Abdullah (Ru’RASA) properties were built on His Majesty’s initiative, together with United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed Zayed Al Nahyan, to provide comfortable housing on stilts that were secure against flooding.
The initiative has been carried out in several districts in Pahang, especially in flood-prone areas.
Zainumar carrying out her chores at her new home under the Ru’RASA initiative.
“I am grateful and relieved that this year there are no more episodes of evacuating to temporary relief centre (PPS).
“The previous house was often flooded, even up to waist level, causing us to spend weeks at the PPS,” she said.
Zainumar added that she would never forget the experience when the PPS that she took shelter in was also hit by floods and the rescue team had to re-evacuate them.
“I also went back and forth to the PPS three times in one monsoon season due to recurring floods,” Zainumar told Bernama at her new home in Ru’RASA Kampung Temai Hulu.
Despite being frequently hit by floods, she said she had never thought of moving or building a house on stilts due to a lack of means as her husband, Abdul Maulut Musa, 43, was a daily wage earner in the village.
Another recipient, Mariani Musa, 56, said receiving the house at her age meant the world to her as she no longer had to pack her things every time the river level rose.
“Buying a new house never crossed my mind because of the monthly instalments.
“If I didn’t have this house, I would have continued living in the old house and faced floods all the time.
“The older you get, the more tiring it is to pack things and clean the house after the water recedes.
Mariani (left) having a chat with her neighbour Kalsom Abdullah, 65.
“Even though the children help, it is tiring to evacuate several times a year,” she said.
Mariani, who sold daily necessities on a small scale to supplement the income of her self-employed husband Ahmad Ab Hamid, 66, said she lost quite a bit when they did not have enough time to save their belongings as the water rose too quickly.
Mariani was also grateful that she still had the same neighbours as before.
“Everyone knows each other. Not only the parents but also the children and grandchildren.
“If anything happens, it’s easy for me to seek help. It’s nice that we live in a comfortable environment.
“If I were given a chance, I hope to be able to meet Tuanku to express my gratitude.
“This house is a priceless and most meaningful gift I have ever received in my life,” she said.
