FAMILY REMAINS AT FLOOD RELIEF CENTRE TO ENSURE DAUGHTER DOESN'T MISS STPM

PASIR MAS, Dec 2 (Bernama) -- A family from Kampung Siram has stayed put at a temporary relief centre for the past three days, despite floodwaters receding, to ensure their daughter does not miss her Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) examination.

The stagnant floodwaters around their home, some 0.6 metres deep, have made moving about tough, requiring wading through waist-deep water, thereby making it difficult for their daughter to attend additional classes.

Nor Izani Mohd Daud, 53, said his fourth child, Nurul Izati, 19, will be sitting for the STPM soon and requires attending revision classes for the examination.

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"If we stay at home, she would need to wade through waist-deep water, and her school uniform will get wet. So it is better for us to stay at the relief centre, which houses over 400 flood victims, to ensure she does not miss her classes," he told Bernama here today.

The kuih seller said, although their home was not flooded this year, unlike last year when floodwaters reached 1.2 metres, the surrounding area nevertheless has remained inundated since Nov 28.

"This stagnant water is very slow to recede, only about five inches a day. We visited the house yesterday, we can return, but it would be difficult for our daughter to go to school," he said.

He added that teachers have allowed flood-affected students to wear sports attire to school, as many are staying at relief centres and do not have proper facilities to manage their day-to-day clothing.

Meanwhile, his wife, Sarina Zakaria, 48, a Quran and Fardhu Ain (KAFA) teacher, said the stagnant floodwater in their area is believed to be from the Sungai Golok overflow, which has affected several locations around Rantau Panjang and Pasir Mas.

Despite the difficulties they face from the natural disaster, their immediate priority is to ensure their daughter can keep up with her revisions before sitting the all-important public examination.

-- BERNAMA