JANDA Baik residents in Bentong, Pahang often cannot sleep at night when it rains.

They told The Malaysian Insight they have lived in fear ever since the floods of December.

Unusually heavy rainfall in mid-December caused massive flooding in Selangor, Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Perak and Pahang.

Pulau Santap, a major recreational spot in Janda Baik, was among the areas inundated.

On Wednesday, continuous heavy rain in the pre-dawn hours caused floods and landslides in several areas in Janda Baik.

Images of floodwaters swamping roads and homes were widely shared on social media.

Technician Mohd Rozahar, 49, said the new round of floods brought him back to square one following an already difficult recovery from the December devastation.

“We had just bought some household appliances but now they too have been destroyed by the flood on Wednesday,” he said.

He said he was unable to sleep whenever it rained at night.

“We have to be on our guard whenever it rains because within a couple of hours, things can go from bad to worse.”

Rozahar wished he could move.

“If I had a chance to move I would but this is all I have as I have lived here for 49 years,” he said.

The Malaysian Civil Defence Force Bentong district disaster management committee secretariat said more than 140 houses were affected by floods in Kampung Sum-Sum, Kampung Lampin, Kampung Cheringin and Kampung Pulau Santap.

Resident Bahya Mat Haron, 65, said she was facing an estimated RM5,000 of damage.

“I thought if a flood were to occur, it would be towards the end of the year but this has caught us by surprise.”

“Nothing much has been done since the December floods. As you can see, the river water has been very dirty since December.

“Before that major flood, the water was cleaner but now whenever it rains, it gets dirtier,” she said.

She added that she was grateful for the volunteer groups assisting with the post-flood clean-up.

“I’m old and so’s my husband. Hence we are extremely thankful that these youngsters have helped with the cleaning.”

Black Pearl Adventure (ATV) owner Muhammad Zaimi, 43, said he was facing RM150,000 of damage from Wednesday’s floods.

“I only managed to save 10 of my all-terrain vehicles while 25 more were destroyed by the floods.

“At this point I don’t know what to do and where to seek help as I have barely recovered from the December floods,” he said.

He said a main cause of the banks overflowing was that the river was not deep enough.

“Ever since the December floods, the depth of the river has decreased and no action has been taken to rectify that.

“I hope this time authorities will take action immediately and fix this place in order to prevent future floods,” he said.

Pahang Meteorological Department director Khairul Najib Ibrahim said Janda Baik is likely to experience more floods in the coming days.

“This is because the southwest monsoon season begins tomorrow.

“The Meteorological Department has issued an early warning of thunderstorms, heavy rain and strong winds in Bentong district,” he said. – May 14, 2022.