Rubber tapper's selfless deeds ease flood victims' burden

RANTAU PANJANG: A rubber tapper from Kampung Lanchang has quietly become a pillar of support for flood victims in his village, spending his own savings to set up a temporary shop and wakaf to help residents cope during the annual monsoon floods.

Wan Hanif Wan Adam, 45, said he spent about RM500 earlier this year to buy wood and zinc sheets to build a small shop and wakaf, knowing that floods frequently hit the area.

"This area has been flooded more than five times. From experience, I knew the villagers would need a place to store their items and seek shelter," said the father of four.

Wan Hanif, who earns a living as a rubber tapper, said he and his family usually relocate to Sekolah Kebangsaan Gual Tok Deh when floodwaters rise.

"As we move to the relief centre, I allow more than 15 youths from the village to stay at my shop and wakaf. They help watch over houses and vehicles belonging to flood victims so that they won't be broken into," he said.

He added that the temporary structures were also used to store essential items and supplies during the floods.

"Some of them used food from my shop. Some paid, and there are those who couldn't. I'm not counting because during floods, helping each other is more important," he said.

Wan Hanif said his small effort was driven by empathy, as he understood the hardship faced by villagers whenever floods struck.

"If we can ease even a little of their burden, it is already meaningful," he said.

The Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) has issued a flood warning for several districts in Kelantan following forecasts of continuous heavy rain and river water levels expected to rise above danger levels.

In a statement yesterday, the National Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre said flooding was expected to occur from today until Friday, following the continuous rain alert (bad weather level) issued by the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia).

Read more: here.