PEKAN: A group of Orang Asli settlers from a village here, have found a solution in protecting themselves from the Monsoon floods.
They have built six huts atop a hill close to their settlement at Kampung Tanah Merah in Chini and are ready to move in if the Monsoon hits the east coast bad.
Made of wooden poles, bamboo and mangrove palm leaves with canvas for roof), each hut has the capacity to provide shelter up to 10 people, in the event their village is flooded.
The settlement's Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) chairman Zahari Samah, 41, said the preparation was necessary due to the proximity of the settlement and Sungai Pahang.
There are 75 families in the village.
"The village has since the past few decades been badly affected by the floods.
“In fact, this settlement, which is home to the Temuk Orang Asli tribe had in the past been submerged," he said when met.
The huts come with basic facilities including sections for sleeping, cooking and bathroom.
“We are also stocking up the basic necessities such as food and water supply," he said.
Zahari said it was the villagers choice to stay at the huts rather than the usual public halls that would turned into relief centres for flood victims.
This, he said was because the community preferred to remain together with their families, rather than having to be segregated according to gender.
Villager Chain Al Ahim, 45, said that they are planning to build 15 huts in total so that the occupants could be spread out.
“The aim is to provide the villagers a comfortable temporary shelter where each hut will be assigned to two families. The number may increase to accommodate everyone,” he said.