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• Floods round-up: Picking up the pieces to start new year

Our young lawyers Wee Loon and Maszura help load the mattresses to the lorry

KOTA TINGGI, Sun: After the fact finding mission by Nik Elin Nik Abdul Rashid and Kuna Nadasen, the Malaysian Bar today sent a lorry packed with mattresses, pillows, blankets, pails, brooms and washing detergent to the residents of Kampung Tembioh who were badly hit by the recent floods. (Please click here to view the Picture Gallery)

The distribution of the items was witnessed by Bar Councillor, Roger Tan who is also the Johor State Bar Representative. He was accompanied by Johor Bar Committee member, Loh Wann Yuan, National Young Lawyers Committee member, Soo Wee Loon and young lawyer Maszura Mohamad. At hand to help in the distribution were members of the Kota Tinggi St. John Ambulance led by their Area Commander, Pok Kim Chan and Secretary Kok Kin Seng, and Kampung Tembioh Penghulu's wife, Raba.

The Bar's team arrived at Kota Tinggi about 12.30 pm. We were then led to the Kota Tinggi St. John Ambulance Headquarters where our two young lady lawyers helped load the items onto the lorry.

Even though today is a Sunday, the town looked rather deserted with few people and vehicles on the streets, unlike pre-flood days when it was a popular stop-over for those who were heading to the Desaru resorts for a weekend.

The first family which the team visited was 76-year-old Sim Hoi Sing who has been residing there for the last 4 decades. But just as we arrived at Sim's house, it started to rain and the volunteers were quick to cover the items on the lorry with a canvas.

Sim's daughter-in-law, Chai Soi Fah, 55, then related how the floods came without any warning in the middle of the night. They were fortunate to have been rescued by relatives who came with a boat. She described the recent two floods as bad as the last worst flood to hit the area in 1969. Asked whether they would now move out from the area, Chai said, while carrying baby Jie Yew, that the family would not.

The team then visited the family of Govindasamy whose house is just across the road. Govindasamy said his house was inundated up to the roof as his son used a broom to point to the marked line on the wooden wall which was the water level during the last flood.

The convoy then went to the more badly hit area where many houses were swept away. One heart-wrenching story is Jamil Ibrahim whose house virtually disappeared from the face of the earth, leaving behind only the concrete staircase. He and his wife are currently squatting in the neighbour's house.

Tan then asked Jamil whether any Johor State Government officials had visited him with any promise of financial aid and Jamil said they did, including his Member of Parliament, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar.

The Bar's team then left Kota Tinggi about 3pm while the St. John Ambulance volunteers proceeded from house to house distributing all the 100 mattresses to the residents.

On behalf of the Bar, Tan aslo conveyed the Bar's deep appreciation to Kota Tinggi St. John Ambulance for assisting the Bar in the distribution of  the aid items. He said the volunteers are the unsung heroes, and the Bar is glad to be able to cooperate with them in our efforts to help the flood victims.

In fact, the residents looked rather surprised when told that we are from the "Majlis Peguam", but it is hoped that we have nevertheless left an impression in their minds that we lawyers do have compassion for the unfortunate.

Meanwhile, the National Young Lawyers Committee has to date managed to raise about RM15,000. When contacted, Edmund Bon who is also the Chair of the NYLC said they are planning to visit and distribute some essentials to the other affected areas like Batu Pahat and Segamat in the coming weeks.

Housewife Chai Soi Fah relating her frightening experience to the Bar's team.

Govindasamy's son pointing to the marked line representing the water level during the recent flood.

Tan consoling Jamil whose house was swept away leaving only the staircase.

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