Ancestral home washed away in floods but family holds Raya reunion there

 

Family members posing for a picture on the first day of Raya yesterday on the steps of the house in Hulu Langat that was washed away by floods last December.

HULU LANGAT: The concrete steps are all that are left of Jamal Mahfodz’s parents’ home in Kampung Jawa here after floods destroyed the kampung house he grew up in.

But for the 68-year-old, there’s no other place he would rather celebrate Hari Raya.

Celebrating Hari Raya at the house is a 30-year-old tradition for the family, one that Jamal and his seven siblings refuse to abandon.

Yesterday, in front of the steps that once led to the family home, Jamal and his siblings erected two tents to celebrate the first day of Hari Raya with visitors.

These concrete steps were all that were left of the family home after the disastrous floods last December.

“This is our family tradition. Our family has grown to 50 people. Our mother’s side of the family lives in the Klang Valley and they would come down here for the first day of Raya,” he told FMT.

“This home is filled with memories.  All of us (siblings) grew up here. I do feel the loss of the house,“ he said, adding that the home, built in 1969, was destroyed in the floods last December.

But yesterday’s family reunion gave the family a reason to smile, Jamal said.

Family members at a Hari Raya gathering in front of the family home before it was destroyed by the floods.

He said they were rebuilding the home with donations.

“We received help from individuals, NGOs as well as the federal and state authorities.

“We will use the donations to rebuild our home. We are grateful for all the help received,” he said, adding the home was expected to be rebuilt in four months. - FMT