GUA MUSANG: The Orang Asli community in Kampung Pasir Linggi, Pos Lebir, here, have decided to remain staying in a shed on the hill even though floods have subsided. Kampung Pasir Linggi headman, Harun Ismail, said that until now 50 families are still afraid and worried about returning to their homes located in low-lying areas in the settlement.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, they are still traumatised by the bitter experience of being hit by the yellow flood in 2014 and refuse to return home again. ‘We are still traumatised by the event because the tragedy happened suddenly and quickly without any preparation. So this time, we decided to wait longer on the hill because we are worried that another flood will occur,’ Harun told reporters in the village, here, yesterday.

Harun mentioned that the weather in the village remains rainy after the Linggi River overflowed, submerging the bridge in the village. The community started moving on Monday and will be living in a shed built more than a month ago for anot
her week.

He added, ‘All initial preparations have been made including providing sufficient food and necessities while staying on the hill and we also did not forget to bring important documents with us.’ Harun reflected on the 2014 yellow flood, saying, ‘When the 2014 yellow flood hit, we had to leave our house without any food supplies. That experience is impossible to forget because we had to starve and eat only in moderation.’

On November 27, nearly 400 Orang Asli residents of the Mendriq and Bateq tribes in Kampung Pasir Linggi, Pos Lebir here, started moving to a shed built on a nearby hill the night before.