SAMPANS BECOME PRIMARY TRANSPORT FOR FLOOD-HIT KAMPUNG GUAL TO’ DEH

PASIR MAS, Nov 25 (Bernama) -- Sampans have once again become the ‘official’ mode of transport for residents of Kampung Gual To' Deh after the village was inundated due to continuous rain since last week.

A Bernama survey in the village found that most residents have started parking sampans outside their homes or along the roadside to serve as their primary means of transport during the ongoing Northeast Monsoon (MTL) season.

A resident, Muhammad Faris Che Samad, 37, said water began flooding the village last Saturday following persistent rain.

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"When the water rises, we move our vehicles, like motorcycles and cars, to higher ground and replace them with sampans for our daily commute to the main road.

"Every year, when heavy rains occur, water levels rise to more than one metre, with some areas exceeding two metres," he said.

Muhammad Faris said sampans have become the official transport for the villagers annually as the village is located in a low-lying area, just 200 metres from Sungai Golok.

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"Most families here keep at least one or more sampans to manage daily activities such as dropping their children off at the roadside for school and heading to work.

"We will face this situation for a prolonged period during the rainy season, possibly for two weeks or even a month," he said.

Another resident, Nik Afzan Nik Soh, 30, said they were accustomed to this annual occurrence, with residents of all ages proficient in handling sampans.

"All movement during the flood period is carried out using sampans. Some residents even have to paddle their sampans up to one kilometre through the floodwaters to and from their homes," she said.

-- BERNAMA