A DOWNPOUR in the old section of Bukit Tinggi New Village in Bentong at dusk on Sunday resulted in severe flooding and mudflows, causing huge damage to the roads, homes and vehicles.

Floodwaters also left many people trapped in buildings.

Video clips on social media showed swiftly flowing waters and mud flowing downhill onto the roads.

Locals are questioning if the sudden floods, the second in a year – were attributable to a development taking place uphill.

Ketari assemblyman Thomas Su Keong Siong said the Public Works and Forestry Departments and the local authorities will set up a team to investigate the the cause of the inundation.

“The investigation report should also be made public so that the people can know the cause of the incident,” he told The Malaysian Insight.  

Kampung Bukit Tinggi village head Young Meow Foong said at least 15 shops and six homes were affected by the floods.

“I’m still collecting information from the villagers. What I know so far is that everyone is facing different degrees of losses. Some even had the walls of their homes collapse and that will require a lot of repairs and expenses,” she said.  

She said the flooding has caused panic among the villagers.  

“It has been raining often, and there are hills nearby. The villagers are worried about landslides.   

“We hope government agencies will investigate and give the villagers a real answer so that we don’t have to live in fear,” she said.  

“I’m not sure whether the development (uphill) caused (flash floods); everything is left to the officials to investigate.”

Bentong MP Young Syefura Othman urged the state and federal governments to determine whether land clearing for development had contributed to the floods.

“This is the second flooding incident in less than a year. This matter must receive immediate attention and action,” she said in a statement.

The residents are largely farmers. The village is a well-known tourist spot with many seafood restaurants and stalls selling fresh vegetables, in particular the famous Bentong ginger. – February 14, 2023.