Norhaya and her husband Abd Jabbar Bavotty were lost with words after seeing their ruined sundry shop and house at Kampung Tanjung Labian, yesterday.
LAHAD DATU: Just a month ago, Siti Aminah Hiya thought her life would finally change for the better.
The 21-year-old housewife said her husband, Jong Jong Yusuf, 41, was eager to try out their brand new boat to fish, a plan which they believed could help earn the extra cash to feed the family.
“We just bought a boat, an engine and a pump lamp after getting my loan of RM1,500 from Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia approved last month,” she said, adding that installments were set at RM34 per week.
But their joy was short-lived when armed intruders were spotted in their village, Kampung Tanjung Labian, earlier this month.
“We left so hastily. Everyone left with the clothes we had on our bodies. All I could think of at the time was to grab my 16-month-old daughter, Siti Norasmawati, and a flask,” she said recalling the conflict between the Malaysian security forces and the intruders.
Siti Aminah and her family were first placed at the Embara Budi evacuation centre, but when the number of evacuees swelled, they had to be shifted to Gemala Pura.
After leaving home, she has not gone back yet.
“That is why I was so excited when told that we would be taken to make damage assessments of our houses yesterday.
“We heard from those at the evacuation centre that some houses had been badly destroyed or burnt. I just hope that it would not happen to me.”
A Kampung Tanjung Batu resident searching for salvageable items at his house which was destroyed in the gunfight with the foreign intruders.
But Siti Aminah was in for a surprise when her house, which was built nearby her parents and siblings’, had turned to ashes.
In fact, the whole family lost their homes.
“I could not help but cry. I am sad that my home and future are crushed,” she said, wiping the tears that started rolling down her cheeks.
Not only have they lost their source of income, the fire had also made them paperless.
“I wanted to get our documents, my daughter’s clinic card but now everything is gone.
“I do not know what to do next. I have only paid the installment once … now how am I going to settle my debts?” she asked.
What made her more worried was to break the bad news to her mother, Salamah Nukah, 51, who is babysitting her grandchildren in Kuala Lumpur.
“She had gone there since three months ago. She only found out about the incident through the news on television.
“She called us immediately to ask our condition. We had to say that everything was fine, just so she would not be worried.
“Of course we can lie about our conditions since she is not here, but how can we keep the secret that our houses are gone … I just do not know how to break the news to her,” said Siti Aminah.
She is also worried of her 71-year-old father Hiya Majijil’s well-being.
“I guess we will have to stay at the evacuation centre a little bit longer than we planned,” she said.
Another affected villager, Norhaya Othman, 27, said she had not only lost her home, but also the sundry shop that she and her husband had built a few years ago.
“It hurts to see our source of income has now turned to ashes. I do not know how to pay our debts now … our lives are ruined,” she said.
Omar Olang, 57, from Kamping Tinagian, also shared her sentiments.
“We had just started our sundry shop business few months back. Although I may still have my home, everything I owned are gone.
“The items at the shop were stolen, and they also searched my house and took all valuable items away. My laptops, plates and clothings are gone,” said Omar.
Going back to his house, Omar, however, had a little joy when he found a blue vest among the piles of clothings on the floor.
“This is a gift for attending a seminar in Tawau,” he said, showing off his Barisan Nasional vest, adding: “It is valuable to me.”
He, like many others, are still unsure of his future plans.
“I guess we all have to start from scratch. At least I still have my house … I just pity those who are practically made homeless. But I believe the government cares for its people, they will be assisted,” he said.
The villagers within the red zone areas in Felda Sahabat, Lahad Datu, will never be the same anymore.
They may heal from the pain, but they will never forget the experience.
It will continue to be a black dot in their life.