GEORGE TOWN – Residents of Penang, once proud of the island’s picturesque beaches that attract millions of tourists each year, are now raising concerns over the growing problem of coastal erosion. They warn that the ongoing erosion is jeopardising their livelihoods and are urging the relevant authorities to implement effective, long-term solutions.
The erosion, which has persisted for years, is visibly altering the landscape of popular beaches, leaving many unrecognisable and disappointing tourists.
Retirees Johari, 66, and his wife Zaiton, 60, from Penanti, shared their distress over the shrinking size of Pantai Miami in Batu Ferringhi, a beach that has significantly reduced in size over the past four decades.
“This Pantai Miami beach used to be wide and beautiful back in the 1980s. But it has lost its shine now,” Johari told Scoop when met at the beach. The couple pointed to coastal development, particularly the construction of luxury condominiums and commercial lots, as a key factor exacerbating the erosion problem.
Elsewhere in Butterworth, long-time residents near Pantai Bersih in northern Seberang Perai have also noticed significant beach erosion, with the width of the beach halving in the past 20 years. Fisherman Shahabuddin Mohd Nor, 54, said erosion has been a problem since the 2004 Aceh tsunami, with high tides worsening the issue in subsequent years.
“With the beach eroding, it has become harder for me (and other fishermen) to park our boats on the beach as we have to park them on the water,” Shahabuddin said. “But it is still risky whenever there are high tides and strong waves as boats get washed off. So we have to look for safe places in Sg Perai or Kg Kuala Muda (in Penaga).”
The erosion has left local fishermen more vulnerable to climate change-induced storms, which have damaged their equipment during recent thunderstorms and high tides.
A resident from Kg Contoh Bagan Ajam, known as Pak Su, expressed concern about the monsoon season, when high tides bring the ocean perilously close to their homes.
“We can’t do anything. It is all God’s doing,” he remarked when asked about potential mitigation measures.
In Batu Ferringhi, erosion has also caused tree uprooting and damage to the coastal cliffs, raising safety concerns for businesses operating along the shoreline. Mohd Tarmizi Yahya, 41, who has run a roadside eatery in Batu Ferringhi for 27 years, revealed that the erosion is threatening the stability of the cliffs where his stall is situated.
“I am worried that if things get worse (with the erosion), the cliff will collapse,” he said.
Decline in tourists, decline in revenue
The erosion issue is also impacting water sports operators in Batu Ferringhi, with V. Sathyasuntharam, 36, highlighting how the combined effects of coastal erosion and frequent storms have caused a sharp decline in tourism and revenue over the past four years.
“The number of customers for our business – Ferringhi Water Sports Co – has reduced by 40%, while our revenue has reduced by half,” Sathyasuntharam said. “While the Covid-19 pandemic caused the reduction, we suspect that the coastal erosion could have played a role as well.”
Despite the installation of sandbags along the beach as a temporary solution, Sathyasuntharam criticised these efforts, saying the sandbags quickly wear out and are washed away within weeks.
A call for permanent solutions
The erosion problem is prompting local residents to call for more substantial, long-term solutions. Shahabuddin, Tarmizi, and Sathyasuntharam all agreed that temporary measures such as sandbags and beach replenishment are inadequate.
Tarmizi urged local authorities to focus on fortifying the seaside cliffs to prevent further structural damage, while Sathyasuntharam recommended raising the beach levels with embankment works similar to those at Padang Kota and Karpal Drive in Jelutong. Shahabuddin proposed extending the breakwater structure opposite Pantai Bersih by another 2 km to better protect the beach.
Zaiton, too, suggested that the state government regulate coastal development more carefully. “Don’t simply allow developments to be placed on beaches that are frequented by tourists,” she added.
Syafiq Azmi, 32, a contractor who has worked on riverbank erosion projects, recommended the installation of wave breakers at popular beaches, particularly in Balik Pulau, which is exposed to open seas without natural barriers.
“The cost of installing such structures alongside all beaches in the state would be astronomical,” Syafiq acknowledged. “But it’s a necessary measure.”
Scoop has reached out to the Penang Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) for comment on the ongoing coastal erosion issue. – November 14, 2024