GEORGE TOWN – Penang has been urged to resolve a series of coastal erosion incidents before allowing development for the reclaimed Gurney Wharf, especially the man-made island dubbed Andaman, which sits on 307.6ha off Gurney Drive here.
Tanjung Bungah Residents Association president Zulfikar Ali Shri Abdul Aziz said that a major geographical change has occurred in the state with its first ever reclaimed island, prompting an urgent need for a new hydrology survey.
“I may not be an expert in these things, but consider this: such erosions happen when there is massive reclamation going on.
We need to investigate. There needs to be a fresh hydrology study done in Penang,” said Zulfikar.
In the past, reclamation only meant the extension of the coastline, but now a developer is allowed to reclaim an island by itself, he told The Vibes.
However, while the reclamation work continues, Zulfikar pointed out that the island is experiencing a series of inland and coastal erosion, including from Balik Pulau to Batu Maung.
The famed Batu Ferringhi beachfront is now eroded in some stretches, with the worst being at sites fronting some popular hotels there.
“Like it or not, whether we dispute it or don’t, there is much destruction happening to our coastline. There is a major geographical change in the topography of the island.”
Landslips linked to reclamation?
He added that incidentally, since last year, there have been several reports of landslides on the island.
Although the authorities may be quick to point out that it may be a natural phenomenon, there is a suspicion that the reclamation is related to this occurrence, and that Mother Nature is subsequently “informing” the public on what is going on, he claimed.
He added that inshore fishermen are reporting a drop in catches near the floating mosque in Tanjung Bungah, where the waters are famous for spawning fish.
“It used to be a spawning area for fish, but no longer. We need answers on why (this is so).
“Residents who are born and brought up in Penang will tell you that for hundreds of years, no such erosion happened in Batu Ferringhi. But it is now occurring.”
Carry out computer simulation on reclamation, make findings public: Zulfikar
Zulfikar, who is a former councillor with the Penang Island City Council, said erosions were reported in Tanjung Bungah, Pulau Betong and Batu Maung.
Perhaps we need to input a computer simulation on reclamation and the outcome should be made public. Is it related to climate change or a climate crisis?” he asked.
Zulfikar called on the state government to convene an emergency study of the coastline, saying that there are experts in Universiti Sains Malaysia who can be recruited to conduct a study.
Meanwhile, following the success of the Seri Tanjung Pinang reclamation project here, Eastern and Oriental Bhd is apparently planning to launch its second master-planned development in Penang, off Gurney Drive.
The second project is the reclaimed island of Andaman, where there are plans to develop residential, education, shopping, healthcare, commercial, and sustainability components, its managing director Kok Tuck Cheong was quoted as saying.
Everything is designed to be within walking distance from homes, including its festival retail marina Straits Quay, Penang’s first seafront mall, Kok said in reference to the STP project, which will be used as a guide for development at Andaman Island.
“When it comes to the homes, we take even more care to ensure that there is something special in every phase.” – The Vibes, February 4, 2022
