BALING: Kampung Teluk Rambong farmer Ismail Abdullah, 72, literally had to go the extra mile to receive the supply of 500 rubber tree saplings for his estate.
Instead of just waiting at his estate for the saplings to be shipped by Risda, the seasoned farmer had to pick up the supplies about one kilometre away.
"The temporary bridge made of coconut trunk will not be able to withstand even the weight of this small lorry. I will have to ship the saplings in another light transportation mode to my estate.
"It will be a hassle, but I can't afford to delay the rubber estate replanting schedule," he said when met while receiving the rubber tree saplings.
All three permanent steel bridges in Kampung Teluk Rambong were completely destroyed by the debris from the floods on Sept 30.
The bridges are crucial infrastructure for the villagers as they use them daily to send children to schools, to get to work and to transport crops from their estates and fruit orchards.
Ismail said he was also in a fix on how to transport 30 tonnes of pumpkins from his farm. The pumpkins are due for harvest in two weeks.
He added that the temporary bridges would be able to last just up to six months.
"They are only meant for pedestrians and motorcycles, not for cars and heavy vehicles. The bridges are made of coconut trunks and will not be able to withstand flood currents. They are also easily worn out.
"I would appreciate it if the authorities could expedite the process of rebuilding permanent bridges. It is hard for us to earn a living under these circumstances," he said.
Another villager, Mohamad Yusof Mohd Nor, 61, who operates an oil palm estate, rubber estate and a banana farm agreed, lamenting that his daily routine was disrupted.
"I have been living here for the past 50 years and the recent floods were really extreme. I have never seen anything like it here.
"The floods have caused hardship for the villagers who depend on the bridges for their daily routine, farming, transporting out the crops, sending children to schools, and getting to the mosque," he said.
Yusof said there were about 20 houses located across the bridge and most of the residents were elderly folk and those in need of medical care.
"We hope that the relevant authorities will rebuild the permanent bridges," he said.
It was reported that the village was hit by the first debris surge and flood on Sept 30, forcing several families, including Naim, to be evacuated to a nearby temporary flood relief centre.
Checks by the NST recently found at least 10 landslide locations at Bukit Lada Putih following the debris surge and floods that devastated the village.
Kampung Teluk Rambong is located in the foothills of Bukit Lata Putih, and the water surge is believed to have originated from the hill. The villagers claimed that logging used to be carried out on the hill some 15 years ago.
Recently, it was also reported that the Kedah Forestry Department had denied claims that there was logging in Bukit Lata Putih.
Its director, Muhamad Abdullah, said the land was privately owned and not part of the Ulu Muda Forest Reserve.