PEKAN: The Pahang government is looking into suitable measures as part of its efforts to identify long-term solutions to mitigate the impact and losses resulting from floods.
State Local Government, Housing, Environment and Green Technology Committee chairman Datuk Mohammad Fakhruddin Mohd Ariff said the Pahang government will consider conducting a comprehensive study to deal with the floods at certain locations across the state.
"We will look into detailed flood mitigation plans in areas where we can reduce flood risks or prevent a recurrence. Flash flood incidents can sometimes be prevented, so we may need to emphasise proper drainage systems.
"As part of the long-term measures, the local authorities can work closely with the relevant agencies to propose mitigation efforts to be included in the draft or district locality plan. This would allow more coordinated long-term planning," he told reporters after opening the state-level National Environment Day celebration at Taman Tasik Sultan Abu Bakar here today. Also present was Pahang Department of Environment director Wandi Yadzid Yaakob.
Fakhruddin was responding to calls by the Sultan of Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah for an in-depth study to tackle the state's flood issues.
On Nov 11, after visiting a flood relief centre in Raub, Al-Sultan Abdullah urged the relevant authorities to work towards mitigating the problem.
Fakhruddin said there were incidents where extraordinary rainfall had triggered floods similar to the debris flood phenomenon which resulted in multiple landslides in Bentong in 2021.
"Sometimes the high amount of rainfall contributes to flash floods especially when the affected area can no longer accommodate the unusually heavy volume of rain. However, we will have to look at it (the study on floods) from all aspects," he said.
When asked if the study on flood mitigation will be discussed during the weekly Pahang executive council meeting, Fakhruddin said he would get the views from the menteri besar (Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail) on the matter.
Fakhruddin said all the 11 local authorities in Pahang had been instructed to regularly maintain the main drains in their respective areas to prevent floods during the current northeast monsoon season.