Saving their goods: Teacher Sazali Shaharom, 42, (right) and his son, Muhd Muzaffar Hakimi Sazali, relocating some of their plants to higher ground at their flood-hit home. — THOMAS YONG/The Star
BATU PAHAT: After three years of going through Ramadan amid the Covid-19 movement restrictions, Noorizah Mohamed had been hoping that this would finally be the year that the holy month returns to being a joyous occasion.
Unfortunately, the 58-year-old may now have to go through the fasting month at a temporary relief centre after her house near Jalan Sungai Rambut here was hit by floods.
“In 2020 and 2021, we had a very quiet Ramadan and Hari Raya. In fact, my children who are living in Johor Baru and Perak were unable to come home due to the pandemic.
“Last year, they were only able to return home on the second day of Hari Raya as the festival arrived a day earlier than expected.
“I thought that this will finally be the year we could really have a proper Ramadan and Hari Raya, but now, I don’t think it is even possible,” the mother of five said in an interview here.
She said this was the fourth time her house has been hit by floods, having suffered the same fate in 2004, 2006 and 2007.
“Three of my children are living with me here and since our house has been flooded, we are now staying at a temporary relief centre.
“If the floodwater does not recede in the next two weeks, we will have our first day of Ramadan at the centre.
“I really hope that things will improve before then as it will not be comfortable to have pre-dawn meals and break our fast at the centre,” said Noorizah, who works as a factory operator.
Teacher Sazali Shaharom, 42, said Hari Raya Aidilfitri will be a quiet affair for most of the villagers of Kampung Sungai Gajah here.
“We lost most of our belongings in the floods, and school will reopen in a week.
“This means that we will need to fork out more money to pay for fees and other schooling essentials.
“I will keep my Hari Raya celebration very simple this year and will not even buy new clothes for my three children,” he said, adding that two of his children are still in school.
He said he may not be able to visit some of his family members, including his in-laws, during Ramadan and Hari Raya if the flood does not recede.
“The road between my village and my in-laws’ house in Labis has been cut off. We normally break fast on the first day of Ramadan there but if the situation persists, we will not be able to do so,” he said.
Housewife Fatimah Hamim, 49, hopes that the flood situation will improve before Ramadan and the reopening of schools.
“I really hope that the floodwaters will be gone in the next few days so that we will have enough time to prepare for Ramadan and the reopening of schools.
“I do not mind having a quiet Ramadan and Hari Raya Aidilfitri, but hopefully we at least get to go through it without water flooding our homes,” she said.
