Ex-cop powers up old sampan for quicker evacuation

Lending a hand: Ahmad (in blue) helping his neighbours to move their belongings after their village in Kota Tinggi was flooded.

KOTA TINGGI: Fed up with the constant flooding at his village in Kampung Sungai Telor here, a retired policeman has modified his own boat to make it easier to move his belongings when the water rises.

Ahmad Asjam, 65, said the village became flooded after it rained continuously from Monday, which was a common occurrence as it is situated in a low-lying area near the Johor River.

“The waters will rise and overflow into our village whenever it rains heavily for a few hours, and this has been happening for years and years.

“I decided to purchase a boat engine online and installed it onto my old sampan to make it move faster – previously, I rowed my sampan with a paddle but my wife and I are getting old.

“This way, my family can load our valuables into the boat for us to get to a safer and dryer place faster,” the retired sergeant major said when interviewed by The Star on Wednesday.

Ahmad, who is also an oil palm smallholder, said his plantation is already submerged but he managed to salvage his tools and other items in time in his boat.

“I modified the boat in preparation for the recent monsoon season but it did not rain as much as we anticipated, so this is the first time I am putting my modified boat to use.

“I also helped my neighbours whose homes have been flooded to move their valuables to safety.

“Not only do we have to worry about our homes being flooded, we are concerned about theft as there had been past instances where thieves took advantage of the situation to loot some of the flooded houses,” said the father of five.

Ahmad added that his family has moved most of their belongings to higher ground as floodwater crept up to his doorstep.