Karak: The Sultan of Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, has called for the deepening and widening of rivers across the state to accommodate rising rainfall and mitigate flooding. His Royal Highness highlighted that sedimentation has caused rivers in several districts to become shallower, leading to frequent overflows and flooding.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Al-Sultan Abdullah emphasized the urgency of river deepening during a visit to flood victims housed at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Karak Setia. He noted that rivers like Sungai Pahang are becoming increasingly shallow, which leads to overflow during periods of increased rainfall. He suggested that deepening the rivers should precede the construction of high embankments and could potentially involve local villagers in the project.

The visit to flood-affected areas included the presence of Pahang Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy. Al-Sultan Abdullah also distributed aid to affected households and visited Masjid Kampung Karak Setia, along with other impacted areas. The continuous heavy rainfall since Tuesday resulted in the opening of two temporary evacuation centers in Bentong and Temerloh, sheltering 178 victims from 54 families.

Al-Sultan Abdullah pointed out that changing weather patterns require a comprehensive approach to flood management. He proposed that, in addition to river deepening and flood mitigation projects, raising houses on stilts in flood-prone areas should be considered as a long-term solution. He also suggested that the L-shape of Sungai Bentong near Kampung Pasir Karak Setia might be contributing to water stagnation, and recommended a study to explore river straightening as a possible solution.

The Sultan described the floods as a test from Allah and urged affected residents to remain resilient. He expressed gratitude for the readiness of government agencies to address flood-related issues and assured that the Palace, Tengku Mahkota, and the Menteri Besar are committed to providing assistance.