I am really puzzled by the frequent flash floods happening even if it rains for a few hours, year in, year out. I have seen rain and flash floods as a kid; that time, I enjoyed playing in the dirty water in front and inside our house, though it brought misery to our elders.

But for young children like us at that time, it was a joy to swim and play in a flash flood without worrying about water-borne diseases, and property and financial losses it brought to individuals and the government.

I accepted the floods that happened when I was young, as infrastructure and drainage systems were not well-developed. As I grew older, I used to think and expect that with the advancement and development of the country, a people-oriented government would do something to improve the drainage systems.

Now as an elderly person – when these flash floods still happen in the same place and area with much worse consequences than previous years, it makes me ponder why they are still happening, despite so much advancement in technology and architecture in this modern world. 

We still have to live with flash floods. We are facing the same consequences as in yesteryears, and the citizens have to walk through or drive through the knee-deep muddy waters running with no dry land in sight, other than high-rise buildings. 

It is disheartening to learn that the authorities have not looked into constructing good drainage systems in line with the modernisation of our country.

Malaysia, being a blessed country, does not face any natural disasters like other countries do. However, even something as ordinary as rain can cause so much havoc to the daily living of its citizens.

I hope my cry for good infrastructure, especially drainage systems, will be heard by the relevant authorities and politicians, and that they will provide basic and worthwhile living conditions for all citizens along with the development and investment they make in our country and overseas.

KANIKA is a resident of Bukit Mertajam, Penang.