I WAS just about to fall asleep when I heard the loud barking of stray dogs and cows mooing from a cattle farm nearby.
The time on my watch showed 4.30am. I slowly sat up on my makeshift bed, made of wooden pallets with used banners as bed sheets, before turning round to find most of the other occupants of the tent deep in sleep.
I had gone to bed at 2am but had only managed to get slightly more than an hour of sleep. I struggled to fall asleep as smoke from a mosquito coil filled my nostrils making it difficult to sleep
A fire had also been started near a monsoon drain to keep out mosquitoes and the thick smoke was making my eyes and throat uncomfortable.
I was among 50 people, mostly women, who have been sleeping in tents at Taman Permata in Dengkil, Sepang. For me, it was a one-night experience, but for the rest, it has been more than 90 days of living in a tent.
The residents have been living there ever since the authorities first ordered them out of their low-cost flats due to a sinkhole problem in early June.
The residents stayed in tents in the carpark after the Sepang Municipal Council (MPSp) declared the flats unsafe for occupation. Some were housed in a multi-purpose hall nearby.
Since then, MPSp president Mohd Sayuthi Bakar was quoted as saying the residents could move back as the structure of the building was still strong and the foundation, solid.
However, a group of them has refused to budge, maintaining the units were not safe. They said there were cracks all over, with tiles falling off and ceilings on the verge of collapse.
As I got up, I saw a few men sleeping in sitting positions while one was sprawled on a row of chairs. Others have spent nights in their cars parked around the tents.
I needed to empty my bladder so I walked outside in the cover of darkness.
On my way back, I saw an elderly woman going towards the bushes to answer the call of nature. It made me sad that women had to go out in the dead of night seeking an “outdoor” toilet.
One of the tent dwellers, D. Janaki, 57, who was also awakened by the barking dogs, was sitting on the bed.
“I knew it would be difficult for you to sleep under these conditions.
“We are exposed to all kinds of noises and the mosquitoes keep us awake.
“Even snakes have entered our tent in the past,’’ she said
She added that the smoke from the mosquito coil had also caused a lot of people to fall sick, especially those with asthma.
Janaki said their living conditions were unbearable and hoped something would be done soon.
“We are worried about the rain as the tent is located in a flood-prone area.
“Last year, there was a massive flood and water rose to waist-level,’’ she said as she pulled her blanket up to her chest and tried to go back to sleep.
At about 6am, almost all the tent dwellers were awake. The women prepared breakfast, after washing up at a nearby public tap.
By 8am, the number had dwindled to only about 15, as most had gone to work or school.
been sleeping in the tents in Taman Permata, Dengkil.
Those left behind, mostly women, washed up and tidied the area before preparing lunch and later, dinner.
Taman Permata residents association secretary K. Ramadass said they were hopeful life could return to normal soon.
“We are waiting for the Federal Government to build terrace houses to replace our unsafe flats.
“The Selangor Government has agreed to give us a 9ha site for the houses,’’ he said.
Many of the residents were former workers from estates — namely Prang Besar, Galloway, Sedgley and Medengley. They were relocated when Putrajaya was developed.
