Budget 2027: Rantau Panjang Residents Seek Sungai Golok Flood Barrier
PASIR MAS, Sept 29 (Bernama) -- A flood protection barrier along the Sungai Golok border is at the top of the wish list of Rantau Panjang residents for Budget 2027, with recurring floods affecting about 2,000 heads of households in the area.
The flooding has become increasingly serious over the past two years and is once again raising concern among residents, particularly with the approaching monsoon season.
Rantau Panjang resident Shahrul Ruzam, 34, said floodwaters around his house in the town had previously risen to more than eight metres and now took longer to recede.
“Flooding in Rantau Panjang town is nothing new, but it has never been this severe over the past two years. When the barrier on the Thailand side was built, the river water overflowed into Rantau Panjang.
“This caused water levels to rise higher and take longer to recede as there is no corresponding flood barrier on this side,” he told Bernama recently.
He said the situation also exposed residents living near the Sungai Golok to riverbank erosion, putting their homes, property and safety at risk.
“We hope the budget will include appropriate plans or immediate funding to address the problems faced by residents here,” said Shahrul, a fourth-generation resident of Rantau Panjang.
Meanwhile, food trader Asmah Husin, 65, said the floods had also directly affected traders’ livelihoods, as she had to close her stall for more than a month during each monsoon season over the past three years.
“Rantau Panjang town is no longer as lively as it used to be, even during the school holidays. During the monsoon season, we have to close our businesses for more than a month because of ‘banjir termenung’ (stagnant flooding).
“This situation has had a serious impact on traders here. We hope the government will take the issue seriously and take immediate action to resolve a problem that has persisted for so long,” she said.
Penghulu of Mukim Bandar Rantau Panjang Wan Idris Wan Deraman said about 2,000 heads of households in and around the town faced the risk of flooding every monsoon season.
He said the impact was also felt by the education sector, with several schools, including Sekolah Kebangsaan Rantau Panjang, Sekolah Menengah Rantau Panjang and Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (C) Khay Boon, forced to close when the area was hit by floods.
“Several studies and plans have been undertaken by the government to address the problem, but so far, no drastic measures have been taken.
“We hope the government will take more decisive action under Budget 2027 to resolve this long-standing problem,” said Wan Idris, who has served as penghulu since 2010.
-- BERNAMA