KUALA LUMPUR – Recreational sites by waterfalls and rivers in the Bentong area of Pahang have been closed to the public, Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said, following a major flood that swept through Bukit Tinggi last night.
The minister, who visited the affected site at Kampung Bukit Tinggi this morning before attending the PKR annual congress 2023, also said he is waiting for a full report on the incident from the Drainage and Irrigation Department (JPS) and the Mineral and Geoscience Department (JMG).
The report will help the authorities decide on the best option for solutions to the problem in the area, he said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
“I will be receiving a detailed report on the options for solutions. We will get a full report from the JPS and JMG.
“Waterfall recreation sites have been closed to the public. I hope the public will also avoid camping by hill slopes and riverbanks during the rainy season for everyone’s safety,” the minister said.
Nik Nazmi, who was accompanied by Bentong MP Young Syefura Othman, Bentong district officers, JPS engineers and other local officials, said the flood was caused by a sudden water surge in the area.
Last night, Young Syefura posted on X that floods had struck the Bukit Tinggi police station and surrounding areas at about 10pm, following heavy rain and thunderstorms that lasted for several hours.
She also shared photos and videos showing torrential mud water hitting residential areas, and reported that the road leading to Janda Baik was cut off due to landslides and fallen trees.
The last major flood to strike the area was on February 12, which had prompted Young Syefura then to call for an immediate investigation as to the cause, including to identify if there was any exploration or land clearing at the top of the hill, which could have precipitated the disaster. – November 26, 2023