An NGO has rebutted the Kelantan government’s claims that its home building project is a failure and has been abandoned by the flood victims in Kampung Pasir Tumboh, Gua Musang.

Cakna Untuk Tetamu (CUT), an NGO under the DAP-led Gabungan Impian Kelantan project said the accusations made by Kelantan Menteri Besar Ahmad Yakob on Friday were baseless.

"There is no truth to the allegations made. They (the Kelantan government) did not do proper research or see for themselves what was happening before saying such things," CUT secretary-general Helmi Mat Ail told Malaysiakini.

The NGO has been based in Kelantan for over a month and has built about 15 houses for flood victims.  It aims to build around 80 houses there.

"When we first came everyone was living in tents. Our main aim was to give them a proper place to stay," said Helmi.

While admitting that the houses built did not follow the guidelines set by the Kelantan government, Helmi clarified that this was due to the "flexibility" concept practised by the NGO to suit the houses according to the wants of the victims.  

Custom-built, privately-funded

The NGO also claimed that the houses, which were built without the assistance of the Kelantan government, were modified during the building process to better suit the evacuees.

Like an elderly couple who only wished to have two rooms as opposed to the three rooms and two bathroom plan approved by the government.

Another requested his house to have a single room instead of three, as he wanted to utilise the rest of the house space to conduct religious classes for the neighbourhood children.

Helmi added contrary to the accusations made, the flood victims around the area have been very accepting of the new houses built by the NGO.

"The people have been very happy with us who have come to help them. They rather live in houses than tents," he said.

Moreover, the NGO’s venture is more than just building houses but in fact is a “community building” project which also has created job opportunities for the evacuees, Helmi explained.

"Our purpose here is not just to build houses and leave; we want these victims who have been devastated by the floods to rebuild their lives.

"In the process of building the houses, we have created around 40-50 job opportunities for the locals here. We also have been organising events and activities to lift their morale and help them deal with the disaster," Helmi explained.