GUA MUSANG: Samsul Ariff Ismail, 44, sipped his iced Nescafe slowly before staring into the cup with an vacant look on his face.

It is only at the food stall, standing on the banks of Sungai Galas in Gua Musang, Kelantan, that he can for a little while, forget his burdens.

His family lost their home in the East Coast floods more than a month ago. He and his family of seven, including his wife, who will give birth to their sixth child this month, are living in a camp set up for the flood victims in Gua Musang.

They live in cramped conditions along with 200 other families in the camp. He returns regularly to his damaged house before stopping at the food stall where those who share his fate trade stories and try to forget the disaster that hit them.

“The house only has its stairs left. Everything else was washed away,” the man from Kampung Kundur, fondly known as Pak Ju, told The Malaysian Insider.

Several men and youngsters recount their sad stories while playing cards and checkers using bottle caps before leaving to take care of their daily business.

Pak Ju has accepted his fate but he cannot stop worrying about his family’s future because he has no job to go back to. He used to tap rubber but the rubber estate where he worked was also hit by the floods. The estate owner has no money to hire workers any more.

“People want to work but there is no work. Employers can’t offer work when they have no money to pay.

“The farms are damaged. They are empty now. I haven’t worked for a month. I don’t know what to do any more,” he said with a wry smile, trying to hide his misery.

Before the floods, Pak Ju earned up to RM1,500 a month working in the estate.

The Malaysian Insider found the village an abandoned area after the floods.There were a few canvas tents set up by owners who lost their homes among ruined buildings and overturned vehicles. Some villagers were seen trying to repair their electrical appliances like refrigerators and washing machines.

“I am like a refugee now ... no home, no job. Just waiting for donations from people who visit,” said Pak Ju, who has been living in the village for 20 years.

“I am thankful to those who donated clothes and food, which are enough. But that is for the short term. Without a job, I cannot rebuild my life to what it was.”

Pak Ju had also exhausted his savings two weeks after the flood hit. “If we build a small house, it will cost at least RM10,000 but there is no money in my account,” he said, finishing his drink.

Food stall operator Mohd Rosdi Shafee, 43, from Kampung Kerinting is also a flood victim like Pak Ju, but he was luckier as he still has his house and stall. He had to give up his full-time job as a lorry driver as he wanted to be with his family during the disaster.

“We have no jobs. There is no work. We are depending on this stall for now but it will be torn down soon. I don’t know where to go from here,” he said, referring to the Gua Musang district council’s operation to clean up the riverbank.

Villagers squatting on the riverbanks have been given three months to clear out for the clean-up. The Malaysian Insider learned from the villagers that this was to prevent the disaster from recurring.

“Maybe I will pitch my tent by the roadside after that,” Rosdi said, pointing to the road in front of his stall, laughing.

Apart from their livelihood, flood victims are also wondering why there is still no news on whether housing aid will be given. The Malaysian Insider also found villagers using river water to clean their household items that they managed to salvage from the floods.

Mohd Nazri Mohd Zin, 45, from Kampung Nerang Tiga Beradik is lucky as he still has a job. His boss gave him a two-month break to settle his affairs.

“Some of my neighbours have no choice but to quit their jobs because their bosses would not let them take leave after the floods,” he said.

When met at his tent, the oil palm lorry driver with six children said even with nothing valuable in the tent, they had to keep wild animals at bay. He and his son take turns to watch the tent now that they have been put in a temporary housing centre.

“I am lucky I have savings. Those without savings are having a hard time.”

Nazri, who has lived in the village for 25 years, said if there is no housing aid, he will have to rent a place to stay.

“People are living like squatters and still don’t know what will happen. If there is no help coming, we will rent. We can only depend on our savings, and donations,” he said. — The Malaysian Insider

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on February 4, 2015.