A GROUP of residents in Kampung Seri Tanjung, Batu Pahat, have set up tents on higher ground after their homes were flooded on Saturday.

Juriana Kamari, 46, said she and her neighbours took matters into their own hands as a nearby flood relief centre was already full of evacuees.

“We wanted to move to a relief centre at SK Sri Gading, but it was already full. After that we agreed to set up tents at the end of the path that was not flooded because there was no other place to take shelter.

“We have been living in these tents for almost a week, and we have received a lot of help from various parties including civil society groups and convenience store owners. So far, everything is sufficient,” she told Bernama today.

To date, 10 tents housing 137 people from 40 families have been set up in the area.

Another resident, Dan Mamajooni, 49, said despite being registered at a nearby relief centre, he and his family will stay in the tents there to keep their house safe.

“Thankfully, the police are always patrolling, so we feel safe,” he said, adding that the water and electricity supply to his house was uninterrupted.

Batu Pahat district officer Nasri Mohd Ali admitted there is a small number of victims who refuse to move to the relief centre because they are worried about their homes. 

He advised them to inform authorities such as the Social Welfare Department, police, and Civil Defence Force about their location. – Bernama, March 10, 2023.