HOMESTAY owners in the central region of the peninsula, whose properties were damaged in the December floods, are trying to pick up the pieces but still cannot reopen for a few more months.

While the mud and silt has been cleared away, they are still repairing and buying new furniture for their properties.

For these small businesses, spending nearly RM100,000 on repairs and new furnishings eats into the little cash flow they have, while also still reeling from the movement control order.

In Dengkil, 64-year-old Ja’apar Mansor, who runs a homestay for anglers, is only looking at reopening after Hari Raya, which falls in early May.

The floods destroyed everything, his bookings along with them.

“We have replaced furniture in the bedrooms and the kitchen, and also electronic items such as televisions.

“I am now about 70% done but am still not ready to take any bookings until after Hari Raya,” the owner of Riverview Homestay told The Malaysian Insight.

During the weekend of December 18-19, when Selangor was deluged, Ja’afar said the water from Sungai Langat was so strong and rose so swiftly that his family had little time to act.

“My family and I were at home and when we realised something was amiss, the water rose so quickly that we could not save everything.

“After the flood, the anglers cancelled their bookings, but I am grateful that none of them requested a return of their deposit. They said they were donating the sum to me to rebuild my homestay.”

Ja’afar, a retired civil servant, started his homestay eight years ago. He said his spot is popular with anglers who usually stay a night or two to fish nearby.

Besides Dengkil, Shah Alam, Hulu Langat, Kuala Langat and Ulu Yam were also inundated, as were huge swathes of Pahang, Johor, Malacca, Negri Sembilan and Sabah.

Nationwide, 55 people died and more than 70,000 were displaced by the flood.

The authorities said, despite Meteorological Department warnings, they had not expected the sheer volume of water.

In Janda Baik, Pahang, which borders Selangor, a woman who wished to be known as Kak Yan, another homestay owner said she will be out of business for several more months, as major repairs are needed to her property, Sham Chalet.

Kak Yan said she lost three gazebos, two huts and a chalet, which she had begun fixing.

“I don’t feel like counting the losses, but it is a lot. We need to replace mattresses, equipment and furniture, not to mention the cost of building new structures. It will cost tens of thousands of ringgit.”

However, to keep some money flowing in, she is accepting walk-in bookings of small groups, for short stays.

“If they walk in and find the place in its current state acceptable, I’ll let them stay, but I have not taken bookings yet.

“I don’t want customers to make a booking and then come here to find that things are still in a state of disrepair.

“I will only reopen for bookings when everything is finished,” said the 51-year-old.

Kak Yan was stranded for hours on the roof of her home waiting for help during December’s floods.

“It was the worst flooding in my experience. It was so cold and we were shivering and had been soaked for hours before getting rescued.

“It was because the current was so strong, firefighters could not get to us,” she said.

She also said after the water subsided, the river near her homestay changed.

“The current was so powerful that it changed the structure of the river. It looks different to how it was before.”

Meanwhile, Hartini, of Hartini Homestay Spa in Pantai, Negri Sembilan, said her house and valuable plants were damaged.

“Some plants were rescued but they needed a lot of treatment. We have managed to clean up the homestay and the nursery, done repair works and replaced equipment and furniture.

“Slowly but surely, although it’ll be a long journey to recovery,” she said.

Nationwide, the government said first phase post-flood clean-up is 98% complete across six states.

The authorities added that clean-up was complete in two states. Repairs for flood-damaged infrastructure nationwide is expected to cost about RM1 billion. – February 6, 2022.