Malaysia: Embankment Ends Kelantan's Monsoon Nightmare

Siti Zarina Mohd Zahari and Siti Hajar Hussain Bernama 20 Nov 14;

KOTA BAHARU (Bernama) -- The monsoon season is a recurring nightmare for the people living in coastal areas of Kelantan as it comes with the rogue waves of the South China Sea.

The resulting coastal erosion affects almost the entire state. It is estimated that some 2.5km of the state's coastline has dissolved into the sea. Many have lost their homes to the waves in the past decade.

Kelantan is the worst affected by the erosion with tens of thousands of people exposed to the risk of losing their lives and homes during the season, which lasts from October through March.

Among the areas affected are Pantai Cahaya Bulan and Pantai Sabak in Kota Baharu, Pantai Sri Tujoh in Tumpat and Pantai Irama in Bachok.

These areas are fishing villages as well as popular tourism destinations and therefore the erosion not only caused losses to the people but for the tourism industry as well.

HOUSES WASHED INTO THE SEA

Hasnah Abdullah, 55, who lives on Pantai Sabak, said one of her relative's home had been swept into the sea while her house located nearby ends up flooded with seawater and sand during the monsoon.

"About 10 years ago, my house was located 2km away from the sea. Today, it is only 50 metres away due to the coastal erosion," she said to Bernama.

She said every monsoon season would see the villagers keeping a night vigil, for fear of having their homes swept into the sea while they slept.

The coastal erosion also destroyed thousands of coconut trees that were the source of income for the villagers.

Historical monuments too were ruined by the waves, among them the fortresses built by the British military to block out the Japanese armada anchored at the Kuala Pak Amat beach on Dec 7, 1941.

EMBANKMENT TO SOLVE EROSION WOES

To prevent further erosion and losses, the state government through the Department of Irrigation and Drainage is building a 3.85km long embankment from Pantai Sabak to Pantai Cahaya Bulan at a cost of more than RM13 million.

The 3.8-metre high embankment is being built in five phases with the last phase due for completion by the year-end.

The embankment was originally only 3.5 metres in height. However, it was not able to withstand the violent waves that destroyed a portion of Pantai Cahaya Bulan in 2011.

ADDED IMPROVEMENTS

The embankment along Pantai Cahaya Bulan is set to become a model for the development of shorelines prone to coastal erosion.

In addition to the embankment, a pedestrian path and public benches have also been placed along the beach for the benefit of the public and visitors.

Although the erosion had destroyed bathing spots and the places to sit down and build sandcastles, the operators of resorts and restaurant could now heave a sigh of relief as the monsoon waves were no longer a threat to their livelihoods.

A visitor to the beach, Habibah Shahid, 48, said the construction of the embankment could help woo the visitors back to the beach.

"Even though bathing at the beach is no longer possible, people can still jog, play volleyball and fly kites," said the teacher from Kedah.

-- BERNAMA