Traders brace for Deepavali amid monsoon and flood concerns
Businesses in several states take precautions against heavy rain and possible flash floods, while consumers are urged to shop early
AGENCY
KUALA LUMPUR – Traders, local authorities and consumers in several states have stepped up preparations for Deepavali on Sunday, taking precautions against possible disruptions caused by unpredictable weather during the ongoing Northeast Monsoon.
In NEGERI SEMBILAN, cleaning and drain maintenance are among the early measures taken by organisers of the 10-day Deepavali Bazaar Carnival along Jalan Lee Fong Yee and Jalan Yam Tuan in Seremban to reduce the risk of flash floods.
The bazaar's organising chairman, K. Murali Nath, said they had asked SWM Environment and the Seremban City Council (MBS) to carry out regular drain cleaning, although the carnival site was not in a flood-prone area.
He said the cleaning work involved removing rubbish, sand deposits, dry leaves and other waste that could obstruct water flow in the drainage system around Seremban town.
"Although it is currently the rainy season, it has not disrupted business here, and everything has been running smoothly so far. If there is light rain, traders will cover their stalls with tarpaulins and reopen them once the rain stops," he said.
Murali said he had been involved in managing the bazaar since it was first introduced in 2010, and that emergency measures would be implemented immediately if flooding occurred.
Trader N. Leena, 41, said visitors continued to flock to the carnival, which brings together 140 traders, despite the unpredictable weather, to share in the excitement of celebrating the Festival of Lights.
In PERAK, Ipoh Little India Traders Association chairman K. Jeeva said the Northeast Monsoon season leading up to Deepavali had affected the income of more than 80 traders and hawkers in Little India along Jalan Lahat.
"The unpredictable rainy weather may be one reason for the lower number of visitors this year. I have also received complaints from traders that their income has been affected by a lack of customers.
"I hope the relevant parties will look into the needs of the Little India area, particularly the installation of a roof and improvements to the drainage system, as heavy rain can cause flash floods here," he said.
Meanwhile, Perak Gold Shops Association president Datuk Amaluddin Mohammed Ismail said visitors continued to come to his shop to buy gold and other jewellery ahead of Deepavali despite the rainy weather.
"When it rains, visitors find it a little difficult to park their vehicles because they have to walk further, as Little India is crowded with hawker tents," said Amaluddin, who has been running a gold shop for the past 35 years.
Visitor R. Sivanesan, 32, from Kampar, said he had come to buy various necessities and brought an umbrella in case it rained.
In JOHOR, daily necessities trader S. Artiletchumy, 60, said she had stocked up on two key ingredients needed for Deepavali celebrations – flour and cooking oil.
She said that although the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, including Batu Pahat, had rarely experienced floods during the festival in previous years, early preparations were still necessary to prevent supply disruptions in the event of a disaster.
"Floods cannot be predicted. During the Northeast Monsoon, all areas face the risk of heavier-than-usual rainfall. This town of Batu Pahat has not experienced prolonged flooding, but what worries us is flash floods," she said.
Housewife and mother of four M. Chitrani, 52, shared similar concerns, saying her Deepavali preparations had not been disrupted so far as she regularly monitored weather forecasts and updates from the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia).
Chitrani, who lives in Mersing, said most local residents usually bought their supplies, including cooking ingredients, festive decorations and new clothes, in Kluang town because of the limited stock available in their own district.
"Usually, two weeks before the festival, my family and I will go to Kluang town, which offers a wide selection of sarees in attractive patterns and colours, besides buying items such as muruku flour and atta flour.
"Three days before the festival, we will visit again to buy fresh flowers, flower garlands and mutton because there are more choices and it is more convenient, as the shops are located in a row," she said.
In PENANG, the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) have stepped up maintenance of drainage systems and flood control infrastructure ahead of the Northeast Monsoon to ensure public safety and minimise disruptions to business activities.
State Local Government, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman H'ng Mooi Lye said the two local authorities were conducting regular monitoring and maintenance to ensure drainage systems under their respective jurisdictions functioned properly.
"This is important to reduce the risk of flash floods caused by continuous heavy rain during the Northeast Monsoon, which could disrupt economic activities and threaten the safety of traders and visitors.
"They should also consider temporarily suspending business operations if weather conditions or locations pose a risk to public safety," he said.
He added that MBPP and MBSP were also monitoring Deepavali-related business activities, including compliance with safety requirements and licensing conditions in crowded areas.
Meanwhile, clothing and confectionery trader K. Selvam, 45, from Butterworth, said his shop had taken precautionary measures by placing goods on higher shelves to prevent damage in the event of flash floods or water entering the premises, particularly during heavy rain.
"For now, we are also using additional shelves and multi-tiered storage boxes to ensure our stock is kept away from the floor," he said.
In KEDAH, traders expressed concern that adverse weather and flood risks could affect their sales and businesses.
Mohd Samsul Baharom, 52, from Kuala Kedah, who sells fresh fish and chicken, said customer numbers at his shop would drop if flooding coincided with high tides in the market area.
"The area here is frequently flooded when it rains heavily. Some of our regular Indian customers are already familiar with the situation and come to buy their supplies earlier, while others place orders in advance and collect them later," he said.
He said traders in the area hoped the drainage systems in major commercial areas would be cleaned promptly to reduce the risk of flash floods, and called for emergency funds to be made available if a disaster occurred.
Nur Nazirah Abd Rahman, 48, from Alor Setar, who sells snacks such as muruku, kuih karas and kuih loyang at the Pekan Rabu Complex, said she also sold her products online to make it easier for customers to shop and advised them to buy early to avoid possible disruptions caused by floods. – BERNAMA
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