Batu Ferringhi erosion a natural phenomenon, not critical, exco says

GEORGE TOWN – Despite claims that beaches in Batu Ferringhi are at risk of disappearing due to erosion, a Penang exco said the rate at which this is happening is not critical.

Nevertheless, the state administration will look into the matter, said Zairil Khir Johari, who holds the infrastructure and transport portfolio.

Calling it a natural phenomenon, he refuted claims that the sudden sighting of erosion along the shoreline is due to coastal reclamation taking place further east of the island.

“If it is (due to) reclamation, why is the whole of Batu Ferringhi not affected? It is happening in a particular locality.

“When you look at it, it is the most obvious place where erosion would happen, and I think this has been going on for many years. This did not happen overnight.”

Zairil said his office is in discussion with the management of a luxury holiday resort there on the reason its structure beside the beach collapsed recently.

“When it is high tide, there is actually no beach there; the waves come right up to the structure, which is in their lot. That is why it is okay for them to build such structures.

“They have also agreed to fix it at their own cost, and they have appointed a consultant to do that.”

He said the state is getting the Environment Department and other relevant agencies to look into the issue, and factors that may have contributed to it. 

“Until the studies are done, we are unable to comment much.”

Because of such erosion, he said, the beachfront at Hard Rock Hotel Penang was given “beach nourishment” with sand brought in from elsewhere.

“They came in and put in new sand, which has to be done once in a while, as it is one of the measures against erosion. We have to look at things like that.”

Yesterday, Penang Forum spokesman Khoo Salma Nasution raised the issue on social media, highlighting that when reclamation happens, another part of the coastline erodes or experiences sedimentation.

“Private developers gain from reclamation, while taxpayers have to pay for regular dredging of the harbour and estuaries.

“Shouldn’t the Penang government try to understand and assess the impact of previous reclamations before embarking on new artificial islands?”

Marine researcher Chee Su Yin of Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Marine and Coastal Studies Centre told The Vibes that studies on beach erosion take approximately two years to complete.

However, it will likely take longer given the Covid-19 pandemic.

Asked about the seriousness of beach erosion in Penang, Chee said it depends on who the question is posed to.

“I think it is in dire straits, because I am a biologist concerned about all things marine.

“It will also be grim to the hotels affected.”

The matter might not mean anything to those who are unaware that the situation is even happening, she added. – The Vibes, April 28, 2021