Boats come to the rescue of students sitting for SPM

GEORGE TOWN: Form Five students of SMK Abdullah Munshi, affected by flash floods, were relieved to be able to sit for their SPM examination in time thanks to rescue boats.

The Civil Defence Force and the state Fire and Rescue Department provided two boats to transport 141 students to the school at the flood-prone Jalan P. Ramlee here. SPM started nationwide yesterday.

The students gathered at a bus stop at Jalan Perak before they got into the boats.

Naim Shah Iman, 17, who stayed up till late Sunday night doing his revisions, said he became anxious when it started raining just after midnight.

“It was raining continuously and I was afraid that there would be flash floods near my school.

“My fears came true. I was worried that I would be late or unable to take my first paper, but luckily we were brought safely to the school by boats,” he said yesterday.

Amir Azinudin Zainal,­ 17, said he was shocked to find water up to his knees as he neared the school.

“As I was already anxious to sit for my exam; this flood just made it worse.

“However, I’m grateful to the authorities who came to help us and ensured that those sitting for the exam got to school safely,” he said.

Penang Education Department deputy director Mohd Jamil Mohamad said a total of 22,215 students sat for SPM in 159 centres in Penang.

Fifty students sat for the exam at schools that were nearest to their homes, due to flash floods, road closures or landslides.

Students sitting for their STPM yesterday were also affected.

Residents at Jalan P. Ramlee endured a sleepless night when it began to rain around midnight.

Business development manager M. Divakaran, 26, was frustrated when he found his brand new Toyota Hilux truck inundated.

“I just bought my four-wheeler two months ago and now it has to be completely cleaned.

“My family and I woke up to a rude shock around 5am when the water level started rising quickly at our single-storey terrace house. I had no time to move my truck,” he said yesterday.

He added that he has to spend more than RM5,000 to clean and fix his truck.

Housewife Nazriah Raupeeh, 38, said each time there was a downpour, it was normal for her and her family members to stay awake in anticipation of flash floods.

“The moment the drains are full, we start shifting our cars and moving our furniture, as the water level could rise very quickly.

“My husband and I have to lift our sofa and place it on the dining table,” she said, adding that her refrigerator has always been placed upstairs in one of the rooms, in case of floods.

Datuk Keramat assemblyman Jagdeep Singh Deo, who was at the scene, said the Sungai Pinang Flood mitigation project needs to be completed to stop the repeated occurrence of flash floods.

“It’s disheartening to see residents here dealing with floods every time there is a downpour, and today students from SMK Abdullah Munshi, who are sitting for their SPM examination, also have to face the floods,” he said.

Jagdeep Singh distributed close to 3,000 food packets to the victims.