An elderly Terengganu man recently took a creative initiative to prevent huge losses after his livestock had been swept away in floodwaters during previous monsoon seasons.
To do so, he spent RM500 to build a raft pen to hold his livestock when the Northeast Monsoon (MTL) floods ultimately arrive.
According to a report by BERNAMA, 73-year-old Mohd Sulong had previously lost thousands of Ringgit due to his livestock being swept away in the yearly floods. Hence, he decided to build the raft pen using wood and large barrels.
“The pen can accommodate about 150 chickens and ducks. I built the pen myself, without any help, to save costs. It took 4 months to complete because I was often unwell after suffering from a stroke earlier this year. I did it little by little, but (I was) racing against time too, as I am worried a flood may suddenly hit,” he said.
On top of building the raft pen for his livestock, he also used bamboo to build floating racks for the electrical appliances inside his home, as every year, the floodwaters rise to chest level.
“There are floods at least twice a year. Usually, this happens at the beginning and the end of the MTL. Previously, I built a platform inside my house, but sometimes the water rises higher, causing damage to my belongings,”
“I hope that this time, the important items will be safe. I can’t go on having to repair or replace broken electrical items every year,” he added.
It is truly saddening to know that there are elderly people in our community who have to endure such hardships on a yearly basis.
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