GETTING WET FOR CAT’S SAKE
Ex-soldier wades through floodwaters 3 times a day to feed his cat at home
ARETIRED soldier, who is taking shelter at the SK Bintong flood relief centre, wades through floodwaters three times a day to feed his cat at his home in Tebing Tinggi.
Abdullah Rahman, 65, doesn’t mind the hassle to make sure that his pet, Oye, gets its meals.
Abdullah and his family were evacuated to the relief centre after their home was inundated on Thursday.
However, he did not take Oye along, fearing the cat would get lost at the school.
“We have been taking care of Oye for three years. He is a part of our family. We don’t want to lose him, especially after we lost our other cat, Oya, in an accident.”
Abdullah said this was the second time his house was hit by flash floods in two weeks.
“My neighbourhood is constantly hit by flash floods, but this is the worst.
“I hope the problem is resolved soon as my wife is paralysed and I fear for her safety every time it rains.”
State Irrigation and Drainage Department director Najib Abdullah said the RM260 million Timah Tasoh west flood-diversion project was 86 per cent completed.
He said all that was left was the construction of a bridge and drainage works.
“It is expected to be completed next year.”
On Friday, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azlan Man said flood woes in Tebing Tinggi were expected to be resolved once the project was completed.
He said the floods in Tebing Tinggi, the worst-affected area in the state, was caused by the construction of a 500m bridge linking Kampung Wang Besar to Tebing Tinggi.
Azlan said the construction of the bridge could not be expedited due to several problems, including the rainy spell for the past several weeks.
State police chief Datuk Azisman Alias said 200 police officers had been deployed to patrol areas affected by floods and to safeguard relief centres.
He said no crime cases were reported in flood-hit areas, while leave for his men had been frozen until the floods subsided.
As at 4pm yesterday, 11 operation centres were closed, leaving 13 centres operating, occupied by 1,504 evacuees from 430 families.