Melaka Residents Face Third Flood in a Month, Urge Long-Term Solutions

Residents in Melaka's Kampung Bukit Berlian, Kampung Lereh, and Kampung Pengkalan Perigi are grappling with yet another flash flood, marking the third such incident within a single month. The recent deluge has tested the resilience of the community, leaving them exhausted and disheartened as they face the familiar ordeal of cleaning up mud-laden homes.

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I have been living in Bukit Berlian for 11 years. In the last three months alone, our house has flooded three times. It's tiring because every time the water recedes, we have to start all over again cleaning the house and buying new things that were damaged.

The latest flood forced 17 families, totaling 55 individuals, to evacuate to the Pantai Kundor Temporary Evacuation Center (PPS). Their homes were inundated with water rising above knee-level, rendering many belongings unusable. Ali Shamani Mohamad, a 37-year-old resident, shared his frustration after having to discard damaged sofas, beds, and other furniture. He noted that in his 11 years living in Bukit Berlian, this is the third flood in just three months, forcing them to start over with cleaning and replacing damaged items.

Siti Norasikin Abdul Rahman, 44, echoed these sentiments, stating that the cleanup from the previous flood was not even complete before the new one hit. She described the third incident as particularly difficult, significantly disrupting their daily lives. "We are not asking for aid every time there is a flood, but we want a long-term solution so this problem does not keep recurring," she pleaded, urging the government to pay serious attention to their plight.

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The third time this disaster struck was particularly difficult because it affected our daily lives. I hope the government pays serious attention to the problems of the residents here because floods are happening more frequently. We are not asking for aid every time there is a flood, but we want a long-term solution so this problem does not keep recurring.

Muhammad Syaril Nizam Madno, 46, emphasized the need for immediate action to upgrade the drainage system in the affected areas and ensure regular maintenance of canals and rivers. He explained that poorly maintained drains impede water flow, and the village's proximity to the coast exacerbates the problem during high tides, preventing rainwater from draining effectively. "We hope the authorities will promptly clean the drains and enlarge the drainage system. If the root cause is resolved, residents will no longer have to bear losses every time there is heavy rain," he stated.

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The drainage system in the affected areas needs to be upgraded, and maintenance work on drains and rivers should be carried out regularly. Drains that are not maintained cause water flow to be blocked, while the village's location near the coast worsens the situation when high tides prevent rainwater from flowing out. We hope the authorities will promptly clean the drains and enlarge the drainage system. If the root cause is resolved, residents will no longer have to bear losses every time there is heavy rain.