Kampung tebauk: Ahead of the monsoon season, a fibreglass boat shop in Kampung Tebauk here has become a focal point for residents preparing to face rising floodwaters. Shop owner Masduki Mohd, 41, said demand for the boats has risen by up to 60 per cent.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Masduki noted that many people are now taking early steps to prepare for floods. Much of the shop’s stock has sold out, and additional boats are kept on standby to meet the growing demand. From October until January next year, the shop remains on call 24 hours a day, with customers sometimes arriving late at night to purchase fibreglass boats or to rent them to safeguard their belongings as water levels rise.
Masduki, who runs the business alongside his brother, Masrul Nizam, 26, reported that customers are drawn not only from Terengganu but also from Kelantan and Johor. The increased demand for boats underscores a growing awareness among residents to prepare early for floods, which in turn enhances the income of local boat operators.
The business was inherited from their father, Mohd Abu Bakar, 72, who once owned a boat manufacturing factory in Teluk Pasu, Manir. Unfortunately, the factory faced closure after being hit by floods three years ago, prompting production to be relocated to another factory owned by a family friend in Kuantan, Pahang.
Masduki mentioned that they offer fibreglass boats ranging from eight to 17 feet, with those under 14 feet being most popular for flood-season use, priced between RM900 and RM3,500. During normal periods, they sell 20 to 30 boats per month, but sales surge during major floods. Post-flood season, demand continues from customers purchasing boats for fishing or everyday use, ensuring the business’s sustainability.
Local resident Jusoh Ahmad, 50, shared his experience, stating that he bought a boat for RM1,500 after his house is submerged under more than two metres of water each year during flood season. Owning a boat has made it easier for him to move his livestock to safer areas, as he rears goats on his property.