Drive a few minutes away from my house and you'll reach the Sungai Pahang (Pahang River). It's the largest river on the Malay Peninsula, and it affects many aspects of life in my small town.
The river is a major part of life in Pahang. It's impossible to drive too far in my state without going over a bridge that crosses the river. There are seven bridges in total! There are routes that do not cross the river, but they often require a much longer drive in order to reach the intended destination.
The Pahang River is an important source of water for cooking, cleaning and bathing and drinking (after it has been filtered or boiled). Additionally, people grow crops near the river or own fish farms in the river. They sell the crops and fish to other locals.
In recent years, the river has been drying up more frequently due to increased hot weather. When the river dries up, this affects the crops and fish that are raised and sold by locals. The more frequent droughts also affect the water supply to houses that are near the Pahang River. However, during the rainy season, people fear flooding.
