Johari’s wife showing the water level on the wall.
KUCHING: The dreaded monsoonal months are a recurring nightmare for residents of Kampung Batu Kitang Jaya.
Village head Lili Bakeri said he has to assure the more than 600 people from 76 families under his care, of a safe, dry refuge and enough food when floods come back to haunt them again.
He was stirring from a nap at a nearby cafe when The Borneo Post spoke to him on Friday about the flood that had just hit his village.
“The Resident’s Office just called me up to ensure I had enough sleep and I told them not to worry as the river is no more endangering the village and the people here,” he said, adding that he had to catch up on a sleepless night, when told the scheduled visit by Deputy Home Minister Dato Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar was cancelled.
Recalling a stormy Saturday, Lili said everyone had a sleepless night as they kept watch on the Sarawak River.
“When the waters rose, my house was suddenly submerged in two feet of water. It happened so fast that before we knew it, the water from the left tributary of Sarawak River had invaded our homes, he said.
According to him, only 10 houses on higher ground were spared. “The most worrisome are those living nearer the river as the water rose to 8 feet.”
Lili, who has been headman for 16 years, said his villagers knew the drill and started moving motorcycles and cars to higher ground but “it is really heartsick as everything is damaged. Our homes are now very dirty and the brick walls are still sodden”.
“As headman, my first priority is to ensure no lives are endangered. Then I have to co-ordinate with all the government agencies and await their response,” he added.
Lili said the recent flood was not as bad as in 2004 as then, the river bed was very shallow and tidal water from the king tide was more ruthless.
“Now the government has deepened the river bed and built a flood barrage on the Sarawak River, which stems the overflow, he figured.
“Maybe in the future, a reservoir might be built and the drainage system here deepened and widened. Or for us villagers, life can be devastating,” he lamented.
“The bad flood in 2004 aside, the flood this year was not as bad as the water receded after two days. Now it is cleaning time.”
According to Lili, the 1963 flood was the worst but he believes that scale of disaster is long gone.
For now, the villagers only hanker after mattresses, blankets and food as many have not yet gone back to a normal routine while belongings are stashed on higher ground like in the village community hall.
He thanked the government and its agencies — police, Rela, Civil Defence, Welfare Department and the NGOs — who assisted them with basic necessities.
Earlier, The Borneo Post drove around the area and stopped at Lili’s house and was met by his son Johari Lili, a security guard at SK St James Kampung Kuap in Kuching.
Johari brought us to see his damaged home, as his wife was cleaning out a room.
“This is just a temporary measure. I am very worried if there is a second wave of flood. We don’t know nature but the king tide luckily has not made it worse,” he sighed.
Residents have stacked up furniture and belongings to dry while others have boats at ready outside their house in case the flood returns, he said.
“The river (Sarawak River Kiri) here can be menacing and rises fast. I was on night duty on Saturday when it happened. When my family summoned me, my supervisors told me to go home to save whatever I can,” he said.
By the time he got home, the water was two feet deep.
“I have lived here for 21 years and the worst was in 2004 when the waters reached the top of our main entrance door,” he said.
“I estimate our current losses at RM2,500,” said Lili who added that if no remedial action is taken, flooding will be a recurring nightmare.