M. Silvaratnam is at wits end after suffering a double blow.
Pre-Covid-19 days, the 67-year-old retired senior assistant owned four barber shops in Sentul and Jalan Ipoh.
When the pandemic hit Malaysia, forcing lockdowns on ‘non-essential’ businesses, Silvaratnam had to cut losses by giving up three shops.
Over the weekend, he was shocked to learn that his one and only barber shop, located at Putra Majestik in Kampung Kasipillay, Jalan Ipoh, was inundated by floodwaters.
Massive floods struck various areas nationwide last weekend, following three days of torrential rain. Several spots in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, and Pahang, were badly affected. Authorities revealed that 37 had died, while 10 others were missing due to the floods.
“Last Saturday, my workers told me that water was about 4 feet high in the shop. I told them to quickly get out,” said Silvaratnam.
“Thankfully, they left as the water rose even higher later in the day. It was only the next morning, that the water subsided.
“I visited my shop and I was so distressed and frustrated. All three chairs, the electric tools … they were all gone.”
“I had to fork out more money to get new equipment. I have to run my business. I had to clean up the chairs and make do with them, even as they were still waterlogged. I had to cover them with plastic sheets.
“I can’t take anymore losses. I have bills to pay, mouths to feed.”
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, had on Dec 22, listed four initiatives to ease the burden of flood victims. He said Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) would provide interest-free personal loans of up to RM5,000, and that the bank had allocated RM100 million to help flood victims buy replacement household equipment and furniture destroyed in the floods.
He also said Tekun Nasional had set aside RM30 million for a Flood Recovery Financing scheme for medium, and small enterprises affected by the disaster.
“I went to the BSN branch in Jalan Ipoh earlier today to find out about the loan, and was informed that only those who had a loan with the bank would be given preference.
“I told them I didn’t have any loans with BSN, but I could open an account. However, they still insisted that I was not eligible.
At 4pm, Silvaratnam told Twentytwo13 that he received a phone call from a BSN personnel.
“The personnel said I can now apply for the floods relief loan online after Dec 27. The loan is up to RM5,000.
“As long as I can cover the cost of purchasing new chairs and other equipment, I’ll be happy,” he added.
