COMMENT | When Siti Ramlah finally made it to dry land, she was already breaking down in tears. Small loaves of bread were the first meal she and her family would have in almost three days.

Other residents in Taman Sri Muda, the worst-hit area of the flood, broke into nearby stores like 99 Speedmart, Mydin Mart, KK Super Mart, and 7-Eleven for food and drinks. The bottom half of their bodies has been submerged underwater for days as the flood has taken at least one storey of most houses in the town.

Another resident, Megala Murthi, was especially frustrated. After saving 30 residents, who consist of the old and immobile, she shouted through the nights for food with the stranded victims to no avail. No Fire and Rescue Department, no army, not even the police next door came out to help.

“Only the public came to help…