Sambutan Aidilfitri tahun ini paling syahdu dan pilu bagi mangsa banjir di Johor apabila mengenang kesan kerosakan dialami, selain timbunan kelengkapan rosak dan dipenuhi lumpur.

Meskipun banjir surut sejak Jumaat lagi, kerja pembersihan belum selesai sehingga semalam dengan penduduk tidak menolak kemungkinan ia akan berlarutan sehingga Syawal.

Tinjauan BH di Kampung Seri Jaya, Taman Perling di sini mendapati sampah dan sisa kerosakan akibat banjir dikumpulkan penduduk di tepi jalan untuk memudahkan kutipan dilakukan dengan bantuan pihak berkuasa tempatan.

Malah sepanjang laluan di bahu jalan dari Kampung Jaya Baru menuju Kampung Seri Sedang Baru dipenuhi sisa sampah barangan penduduk yang rosak.

Pakaian raya rosak, berbau

Seorang penduduk, Rubiah surat, 74, menyifatkan banjir melanda paling buruk sejak menetap di kawasan itu 50 tahun lalu sehinggakan tidak mampu lagi bersedih melihat keadaan rumah yang dipenuhi lumpur.

“Tiada satu pun pakaian kering untuk kami, semuanya basah terkena banjir. Baju raya lengkap yang anak belikan untuk mak cik dan pak cik juga basah dan berbau busuk.

“Mak cik keluar rumah ketika banjir Khamis lalu, sehelai sepinggang. Beg dijunjung hanya ada dokumen,” katanya.

Ditanya mengenai kerosakan, Rubiah berkata, kediaman serta barang termasuk makanan seperti beras dan ayam dibelanjakan sehari sebelum banjir rosak dan busuk.

Bukan itu sahaja, katanya, kuih raya dibeli juga digenangi air dan rosak semuanya.

“Raya kali ini tetap raya, tetapi memang tiada apa, ziarah kubur dan duduk di rumah sahaja. Juadah raya pun belum fikir macam mana nak masak sebab dapur dan tong beras pun hanyut,” katanya.

Nasib sama menimpa suri rumah, Jamaliah Yusuf, 45, yang menanggung kerugian apabila biskut raya yang dijual hanyut dan rosak, manakala permaidani dan pakaian raya dibeli basah dan berbau.

“Baju raya memang sediakan awal untuk sekeluarga, tetapi semuanya sudah basah. Apa yang boleh guna kita guna semula. Raya ala kadar sahaja tahun ini,” katanya.

JOHOR BAHRU: Sebanyak 500 metrik tan sisa pukal banjir dijangka dikutip dalam Operasi Pembersihan Pasca Banjir dari kawasan terjejas banjir membabitkan Bandaraya Johor Bahru, Kulai, Kota Tinggi, Kluang dan Iskandar Puteri.

Pengurus Besar Korporat SWM Environment Sdn Bhd (SWM Environment), Mohd Norlisam Mohd Nordin berkata operasi yang membabitkan 200 tenaga kerja dan 40 jentera telah bermula sejak Jumaat lalu.

Dalam tempoh lima hari operasi dijalankan, lebih 250 metrik tan sisa banjir seperti almari, katil dan tilam yang rosak telah dibersihkan di kawasan terjejas.

"Kita jangkaan hingga hari Sabtu ini, anggaran kurang seminggu sebelum Syawal sebanyak 500 metrik tan sisa dapat dibersihkan.

"Kalau lihat dari segi pembersihan yang dijalankan dalam tempoh lima hari, kita mengutip 250 metrik tan sisa banjir dengan purata sehari 50 hingga 60 metrik tan.

"Antara kawasan kutipan sisa yang tinggi adalah di Taman Tampoi Indah, Projek Perumahan Rakyat (PPR) Desa Mutiara, Kampung Seri Jaya dan Kampung Seri Serdang," katanya ketika melihat perkembangan Operasi Pembersihan Pasca Banjir di Villa Rose, Taman Tampoi Indah, hari ini.

KUALA LUMPUR: A Sessions Court in Kelantan has cleared a Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) officer of negligence after a wasp nest removal operation took a disastrous turn, leading to a house fire.

Judge Effandi Nazila Abdullah made the ruling after satisfied that Zuliar Latiff (plaintiff) failed to prove his case on the balance of probabilities against Lance Corporal (PA) Mohd Al Faizal Mohd Karim and the government (defendants).

According to the court document, the incident began when Zuliar discovered a large wasp nest inside a wardrobe in his family home near Pasir Mas, Kelantan on Sept 15 2021.

With his elderly mother and younger sibling stranded in Perak due to Covid-19 movement control order, the 50-year-old man called emergency services for help.

APM officers, led by Mohd Al Faizal who responded to the call, assessed the situation and decided to use aerosol insecticide to eliminate the wasps and their nest.

However, despite the treatment, many wasps remained active and attacked the defendant when he attempted to remove a piece of clothing from the wardrobe.

In a desperate attempt to protect himself, Mohd Al Faizal, who had served in APM for seven years and had vast experience in exterminating wasp nests, lit a lighter to ward off the insects, but the flame ignited fabric stuck to the window frame.

The fire quickly spread, and despite efforts to put it out, the house was engulfed in flame.

The plaintiff claimed that the officer acted recklessly and should be held responsible for the destruction of his home.

Meanwhile, the defendants argued that they had taken all reasonable and precautionary measures at all times while carrying out the operation to destroy the wasp nest, in accordance with the guidelines set by APM.

Effendy Nazila in his ground of judgment said the court is of the opinion that Mohd Al Faizal had exercised reasonable caution throughout the operation to destroy the wasp nest.

"The first defendant was fully equipped with personal protective equipment (PPE) and conducted the operation in accordance with APM guidelines.

"The Fire and Rescue Department's commander who extinguished the fire, testified that their investigation revealed the fire was caused by an accident," he said.

The court said there was no evidence indicating that Mohd Al Faizal was negligent during the operation.

The judge added the fire could have occurred even in the absence of negligence by Mohd Al Faizal and that he did not have full control over the plaintiff's house.

THE 73rd Malaysia Civil Defence Day was celebrated yesterday, with the theme “Volunteers and Civil Defence: The Core of National Well-being”.

This theme strongly reflects the dedicated work of the Civil Defence Force of Malaysia, who, alongside other Malaysian uniformed personnel, serve selflessly and without complaint.

In light of this, I urge everyone to recognise and appreciate the sacrifices and dedication of not only the Civil Defence Force but also all uniformed personnel who have tirelessly given their all. However, it saddens me to see negative comments and jabs on social media ridiculing the roles and responsibilities of the force.

Please show respect for the uniform and what it represents, as it ultimately reflects on our sovereignty.

It is unfortunate that some individuals remain unaware of the existence of the Civil Defence Force, despite it having been in operation for 70 years.

The Malaysian Civil Defence Force, among other duties, handles disaster management, provides humanitarian services, educates the civilian population on civil defence and trains them for civil defence purposes. They also have a specialised disaster and emergency response team, the Spider team, which specialises in search and rescue operations.

I call on everyone to respect, honour and appreciate the sacrifices of the Civil Defence Force and uniformed personnel in the name of the Jalur Gemilang.

Yeap Ming Liong
Associate Captain

Malaysian Civil Defence Force