Still reeling from the floods – a week later

Teachers and students drying their books outside the library of the flood-hit SJKC Mak Mandin in Butterworth, in front of the statue of Confucius. A week after the floods hit the state, much of Penang is still struggling to recover from the effects of the huge floods. Many motorists still have their cars in workshops and face whopping repair bills. Meanwhile, the state’s two councils are telling anyone who found valuables in the flood debris to surrender them.

GEORGE TOWN: The massive floods of Nov 4 and 5 continue to worry Penang folk who are still haunted by the nightmares caused by the 15hour storm.

Sixtyyearold Julie Lim still lives in fear since 1.5m of floodwaters inundated her ground floor Taman Setia flat in Tanjung Bungah.

The grandmother had to stand on her bed and cradle her 10monthold grandson on Nov 5.

“I had no choice but to carry my grandson and stand on the bed for over an hour until help arrived,” she said when met at a protest by more than 100 residents in the area yesterday.

Retired clerk Pat Eng, 70, who lives alone, said she was awakened by her neighbours warning of the fastrising water.

“Everything I own is gone, nothing could be salvaged. But I managed to grab my personal documents before leaving for higher ground,” she said.

The residents signed a petition calling for an investigation into the cause of the floods and to rectify the problem.

Management committee chairman Wong Fook Kong said 30 homes were affected by the floods, which also damaged 115 cars and 87 motorcycles.

“We are not pointing the finger at anyone but we need this to be the first and the last of such floods.

“Penangites deserve to live in peace and without fear of loss of life or loss of property due to floods,” he said.

Tanjung Bungah assemblyman Teh Yee Cheu, who was present at the protest, said the outdated drainage system was the main cause of the floods.

“I will hand over the signed petition to Local Government and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow during the state assembly sitting today,” he said.