KUALA BERANG: A family of six living in a dilapidated boathouse in Tasik Kenyir here is hoping that the Covid-19 pandemic will end soon so that they can live “normally”.

       Shamsuddin Khalid, 45, said he could not wait for tourists to return to Tasik Kenyir so that he would have income to repair his crumbling boathouse.

       “I’ve been living on this raft since two years ago with my wife Nor Farhana Yusop, 30, and four of my children – Nor Nadia Shahira, 11, Nor Syazlina Farahin, nine, Nor Azura Natasha, seven, and Nor Farhan Iskandar, eight months.

       “I bought this raft nine years ago for RM15,000 for my tourism business around the lake.

       “Everything went well until the boat broke down in March 2020 and I did not have sufficient funds to repair it,” he said.

       Prior to this, the family lived in another boathouse on the lake for 10 years but had to vacate as the structure came close to sinking due to its bad condition.

       Shamsuddin said he received a RM5,000 assistance from the Central Terengganu Development Authority (Ketengah) to repair the boathouse but it was insufficient as the damage was rather extensive.

       “To provide for my family, I took on jobs to operate other boathouses owned by other entrepreneurs but the arrival of the pandemic wiped out all opportunities as tourist arrivals dropped to zero.

       “Nonetheless, I am thankful for the assistance from my brethren and friends who extended help whenever I am desperate.”

       Shamsuddin said he was mindful of the need to ensure his children got all the support for schooling, with three of them enrolled at SK Padang Setebu in Kampung Basung, about 10km away.

       Nor Farhana said she was already used to the hardship of living on the boathouse, but she is constantly worried over the safety and welfare of her children.

       “My kitchen gets raided by macaques and snakes when we are not at home. My kids had also fallen into the water while playing, but were rescued in time. They can all swim now.

       “We did think of moving to live on land for the sake of our children who also long to live like their peers. My husband did apply for aid from the government to repair our house and we hope it will be approved soon,” she said. — Bernama