Retiree relives 1971 flood nightmare

PETALING JAYA: The flood calamity that hit Temerloh this year was like reliving a 1971 nightmare for 74-year-old Abdul Manap Ahmad, a government retiree from Kampung Buntut Pulau.
Abdul Manap said he did not expect that the floods this year to be so devastating that thousands had to be displaced and many houses completely submerged.
"It was a horrific scene to see water rising just like in an ocean. Furthermore, it reminded me of the worst flood hitting Temerloh during 1971," he told Berita Harian.
Recollecting the disaster Abdul Manap said families residing near the river fled to their safety and only the forest and high areas were just the few areas spared from the disaster.
"Some could not eat as food was unavailable while others had to resort to eating cassava. This year's floods traumatised me as it reminded me of the horrible 1971 experience," he added.
Speaking on the flood this year, Abdul Manap said water started to spill into the area of Kampung Buntut Pulau since Friday, causing land communications to be cut off and hindering residents to reach the evacuation centres.
"The next day, electricity and water supply were cut off. I told my youngest child to pick up the rest of our family members still in our house with a boat, fearing that the floods were becoming worse," he said.