Northeast Monsoon: Rantau Panjang Residents Build Makeshift Rafts To Save Belongings

By Adnan Mohamad

PASIR MAS, Oct 17 (Bernama) -- With the Northeast Monsoon fast approaching, residents living along Sungai Golok in Rantau Panjang have begun stepping up precautionary measures to brace for the annual floods that frequently inundate the area.

In Kampung Lubuk Gong, preparations go beyond the usual practice of placing belongings on higher ground. Villagers are also building makeshift rafts as a safeguard to protect valuable items - including electrical appliances and motorcycles - from being swept away by strong currents.

A check by Bernama found that several residents have completed constructing their own rafts, ingeniously crafted using plastic drums and plywood for buoyancy. Others are still working together to build new ones with materials and assistance provided by non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Mukim Lubuk Gong penghulu Suriani Daud said residents are now in a state of full preparedness, as rainfall has become more frequent since last week  - a clear sign that the monsoon season is drawing near.

“Continuous downpours can cause the water level of Sungai Golok to rise rapidly, which is a major concern for residents living in low-lying areas,” she said.

“We are grateful to the NGOs that have come forward to donate rafts for residents’ use, although the number is still insufficient,” Suriani told Bernama today.

According to her, 26 units of 4x4-metre rafts have been completed so far, with each unit shared by two families. The rafts can be used to store household belongings or serve as temporary shelters when floodwaters rise.

However, Suriani noted that the demand for rafts remains high, as financial constraints have limited efforts to extend assistance to all affected families.

Meanwhile, village resident Wan Azlina Wan Yusof said the raft donations are deeply meaningful to the community, as they help residents safeguard valuables during floods.

“Last year, the water rose to chest level. Many electrical items and motorcycles couldn’t be saved. With a raft, at least we can place important items on it while waiting for the evacuation centre to open,” she said.

According to her, the safety of family members, especially children, remains the top priority whenever floods strike. Residents typically move to nearby houses, mosques, or higher ground before receiving official instructions to relocate to temporary evacuation centres.

Resident Ramli Husin, 52, said that each monsoon season brings major challenges, particularly in ensuring the safety of children and the elderly, who are often difficult to evacuate quickly when water levels rise suddenly.

“If the water rises at night, it becomes really chaotic. We have to wake up to lift belongings, move vehicles, and make sure every family member is safe.

“That’s why these rafts are so important - at least they provide temporary space to hold on to or store important items before the rescue boats arrive,” said Ramli, who has lived near Sungai Golok for more than 20 years.

He said that although floods have become an annual routine for local residents, the arrival of the monsoon season still brings anxiety, as it is difficult to predict the depth of the water and the speed of the current, which can change within a short time.

It is understood that during the major flood last year, more than 500 houses in the areas of Kampung Tersang, Lanchang, Tasek, and Lubuk Gong were inundated, causing significant losses to the affected residents.

-- BERNAMA