Back-breaking job: (From left) Sazali, Rosaniza and Abd Malik who have been cleaning their homes since returning from flood relief centres are hoping to have their houses shipshape for Hari Raya.
BATU PAHAT: Teacher Sazali Sharadom is not done with the back-breaking job of cleaning up his house, which was hit by the Johor floods early this month.
“We have tried our best to clean the whole house before Ramadan, but it looks like it is not possible. For now, we still have a lot of furniture, plates, clothes and other small items to clean.
“Thankfully, we managed to get all the major cleaning tasks done, including scrubbing the floors and throwing away furniture and belongings that were completely damaged,” he said in an interview.
Sazali, 42, said he eventually returned to his house in Kampung Sungai Gajah, Batu Pahat, last week after putting up at a relief centre.
Dozens of other residents are in a similar situation, where they are still in the midst of recovering from the floods.
“My family and I started cleaning the house last Friday after floodwaters receded completely in my village. It is a daunting and back-breaking task that requires a lot of patience, but what choice do we have?” he said.
The father of three said that he spent most of the morning of the first day of Ramadan yesterday resuming the dreaded task.
“I started going back to work last Sunday, and since then, I have had only a few hours a day to clean up the place. I hope that we can get this over with in the next few days.
“It is tiring enough to carry out the task on a normal day; what more on days that we are fasting?” he said.
Factory worker Rosaniza Sanusi, 39, said she is grateful to be back at her house before Ramadan, despite all the cleaning that had to be done.
“I have piles of clothes to wash and boxes of utensils to clean as I just got back home from a temporary relief centre less than a week ago.
“However, the house has been scrubbed thoroughly. It is now clean enough for us to live in. Most importantly, I can now cook at home during the fasting month.
“We have a lot more to clean up, but I am grateful that we are at least at our own place and able to spend the first day of Ramadan at home instead of being at a relief centre,” she said.
Farmer Abd Malik Muhammad, 44, said that among the first few things he bought for his house upon returning home from a relief centre were a blender and rice cooker.
“I decided to buy kitchen appliances first as those are important things to have during Ramadan and for the upcoming Hari Raya.
“Thankfully, we managed to salvage our refrigerator and oven from the floods. Most of my furniture is completely damaged, and I am still deciding if I want to replace it.
“I may just buy some plastic chairs and a small table for Hari Raya as some of our relatives will be visiting us,” he said.
He said that his family was still traumatised by the floods and had yet to feel the mood for Hari Raya.
“It will take time for things to get back to normal.
“We initially wanted to have a big Hari Raya open house, but I think the plan will have to be postponed until next year.
“This year, we will just have a simple celebration. We may not even wear new clothes,” he said.
