BALING: The Aidiladha celebration might have been a lively one for most Muslims in the country, but it was a totally different atmosphere at several villages here after the floods and water surge incident.
In the absence of new clothes, delicious food and family reunions, there was no merriment for the residents.
For Abd Rahman Said, 71, this was an emotional Aidiladha as he was still mourning for his loved ones.
His wife Salmah Mat Akib, 53; stepson Mohd Khairul Ikhwan Nor Azman, 14; and daughter-in-law Nurul Anis Abu Hassan, 23, who was four months pregnant, perished in the incident last Monday.
“It’s not that I don’t want to forget about the tragedy, I’m still longing for my wife, my son and my daughter-in-law.
“I still remember their demeanours, especially on Eid, so today’s atmosphere is different.
“My wife suffered from a stroke so every morning I woke her up, bathed her and prepared food for her. The same during Eid,” he told Bernama when met at Masjid Raudhatul Falah, Kampung Iboi, Kupang, here yesterday.
Earlier, he joined some 300 other worshippers including Baling MP Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim to perform the Aidiladha prayers, led by the Marriage, Divorce and Rujuk deputy registrar for Kariah Kampung Iboi, Mohammad Zawawi Ibrahim.
Even though he was still traumatised, Abd Rahman, who is currently taking shelter at the relief centre located at SMK Jerai, said he was determined to be patient during this trying time and would try to continue living as usual.
Another resident, Norhayati Ismail, said in the past, she would get together with all her family members and enjoy food such as ketupat, lemang and rendang but not this year.
The 38-year-old was left homeless after her house, located near Sungai Kupang, was completely destroyed in the disaster.
Norhayati, her husband and their four children, aged nine to 18, are currently putting up at her mother-in-law’s house in Kuala Ketil near here.
She added that so far, the relief items such as clothes, daily necessities and food received were sufficient. She hoped to get school uniforms and equipment for her children.
