BOATING TO SCHOOL BECOMES DAILY ROUTINE DURING FLOODS

GUA MUSANG, Dec 11 (Bernama) -- Dressed in her school uniform and travelling by boat past flooded homes has become a yearly experience for Nur Fatin Hanina Muhd Naim, 17, whenever floods hit Kampung Limau Kasturi here.

The student from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Sungai Asap shared that this routine is something she goes through for at least two to four days each year, depending on the weather and water levels in her village.

Her family owns a boat as a spare vehicle to use whenever roads and bridges in Kampung Limau Kasturi are submerged, cutting off access.

"It has become a norm for us to ride in the boat, rowed by my father, across the flooded areas before catching a ride in a relative's car parked on higher ground across the river," she said when met with her family while returning home by boat yesterday.

Nur Fatin, who is preparing for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination, said that she chooses to commute to her school, located approximately 30 kilometres away, because she finds it more comfortable to study at home, where she also has better access to educational resources.

"Every day during the floods, my younger sister, Nur Azwa Shafrina, 16, and I follow the same routine of taking a boat to school.

"Since I will be sitting for the SPM examination this year, I spend a lot of time revising using my smartphone. That’s why I prefer staying at home," said Nur Fatin.

Kampung Limau Kasturi Federal Village Development and Security Committee (JPKKP) chairman, Aluwi Muda said that more than 50 primary and secondary school students from Kampung Limau Kasturi and Kampung Serian have been affected by the second wave of floods.

"Sometimes, these students cannot get to school until the water recedes because not every family in the village owns a boat or canoe to navigate through the flooded areas," he said.

According to the Info Bencana portal of the Social Welfare Department (JKM), as of 1 pm, all flood victims in Kelantan have been relocated to two temporary relief centres (PPS) in Gua Musang, namely Dewan Semai Bakti Felda Chiku 7 and Sekolah Kebangsaan Limau Kasturi 1. These centres are currently housing 276 people from 64 families.

Meanwhile, the Department of Irrigation and Drainage’s portal, infobanjir.water.gov.my, recorded only one river in Gua Musang at the alert level, with Sungai Galas in Limau Kasturi showing a reading of 57.15 metres.

-- BERNAMA