SPECIAL REPORT | At Kampung Baru Ringlet, one of the earliest settlements in Cameron Highlands, a motorcycle zips through a narrow pathway, passing a row of houses.

The rider takes little notice of the rubbles between the dwellings, which have become a common sight in parts of the neighbourhood.

The only indication that the piles of rotting wood were part of someone's home was what is left of its foundation – a concrete slab.

These are a reminder of the mud flood that swept through Ringlet town and Bertam Valley on the night of Nov 5 in 2014, claiming three lives.

More than two years on, the disaster is still clearly etched in the minds of many of the residents, who have been struggling to rebuild their lives.

K Selvathurai, who lives in Kampung Baru Ringlet and works as a security guard, recalled how, without any warning, muddy water gushed into his house that night.

“The water damaged the houses and broke down the walls. We couldn’t get out of our house until the water subsided after an hour,” Selvathurai said.

Another mud flood had ravaged Bertam Valley a year before that, and little did the people of Ringlet expect that they too would fall victim, for there had been a flurry of reassurances from the authorities after the 2013 incident.

Some lost their belongings, while others, their homes.

Selvathuraj (photo) managed to repair his house, but at a heavy cost.

“The government gave only RM5,000 but I spent RM30,000 to fix the house and buy everything,” Selvathurai said, pointing to the house that he bought in the 80s.

Other more unfortunate residents didn't have a home left to repair, nor did they receive any compensation.

According to Parti Sosialis Malaysia secretary Suresh Kumar, the compensation was only for those who had permanent land titles but not for those with temporary occupation licences (TOL).

Following the 2014 flood, the Cameron Highlands Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS) asked the residents who live by the river to relocate for a river widening project, which has yet to commence.

In Bertam Valley, three families who spoke to Malaysiakini said they lost their homes during the flood of 2014 and were still struggling to find their footing.

In early 2015, these families thought they finally had some good news when the Rural and Regional Development Ministry said they would be receiving new houses under the Area Development Programme (PPK).

According to the ministry, the PPK seeks to relocate residents who are affected by “natural disasters, security threats, health threats and settlements located in areas that are not suitable and inaccessible to basic facilities”.

The families were moved to one such project along the Ringlet-Sungai Koyan Highway.

But to their disappointment, there was no electricity or water and they also had to suffer a 9km commute to Bertam Valley town.

The families of Azizah Nasarudin, Nabjiah Ngaliman and Sapiah Bakar finally decided to move out of the PPK houses during the Ramadan of 2015.

They opted to rent a house in Bertam Valley town, despite the high cost of rental in Cameron Highlands.

“We were forced to do so because there was no electricity and water at the PPK houses, and it was hard for us as we were fasting,” said Azizah, 39 (photo), who is a mother of four.

Azizah's family and the two other families are now squeezed into a rented house in Bertam Valley, with each family paying their equal share for the RM1,800 monthly rent.

Azizah, along with her spouse and children sleep in the same room, where she also cooks.

Nabjiah lamented that the government had promised them water and electricity within six months when they moved to the PPK project.

Seven months passed, and nothing happened.

The family of Nabjiah (photo) could no longer live under such conditions, and finally decided to move out with the other families, even though they were mindful that renting a house would put a heavy strain on their finances.

The mother of two finds it difficult to sustain her children’s school fees and allowances as the combined income of her and her spouse is only about RM1,600 per month.

“My son is studying in Unimas, with a PTPTN loan, but it’s not enough.

“I also cannot afford to give my son more than RM300 every month for his allowance, unless there is something urgent,” said a teary Nabilah.

She said that although all three families were sharing a house served by one toilet, they were happy with the basic amenities and a roof over their heads.

“It is hard, but we do not have a choice because it will cost more than RM1,000 to rent a house,” said Nabjiah.

Sapiah, 66, a single mother, who is staying there with one of her six children, found it hard to travel to work while at the PPK unit.

“How do they expect us to stay there when there’s no electricity and water? I also have to depend on my children to travel around,” said Sapiah (photo), adding that they had to rely on a generator for electricity.

The distance from the house to town also made it difficult for Sapiah, who sells nasi lemak in town for a living.

The three families are still hoping for government help, but for now, they will have to make do, cramping together in one house.