Deteriorating PD beach puts damper on mini break

Tents pitched indiscriminately are blocking the sea view and crowding the beach in Teluk Kemang.

WHEN I was a child, Port Dickson in Negri Sembilan was my family’s go-to place when in need of a short vacation away from the city.

The relatively short distance from Klang Valley allowed us to get there quickly without spending too much time on the road.

My family and I have built many lasting memories of our time together staying in hotels and resorts and enjoying activities on the beach.

Unfortunately, my recent visit to the Teluk Kemang beach found that it was no longer what it used to be.

Rubbish was strewn everywhere and in certain areas, an overpowering stench lingered.

The public’s attitude is as much to blame as is poor enforcement.

Food packages and plastic wrappings could be seen left behind after people were done eating and drinking.

There were some responsible citizens who discarded their waste into bins while others left their rubbish by the bins that were overflowing.

If the bins were full, then the next best option would be to carry the rubbish on their journey away from Teluk Kemang, and throw it elsewhere.

There were also tents that not only blocked the sea view, it was also difficult to take a leisurely stroll along the beach.

For as low as RM50, one can rent a tent all day until 7pm.

There have been several reports on this issue, which has yet to be addressed by Port Dickson Municipal Council (MPPD).

The council had earlier responded by saying that the tents could only be put up based on requests from visitors.

What this means is that most of the tents will be set up anyway based on the number of visitors to Teluk Kemang.

However, water sport operators are pitching the tents irrespective of requests.

So, a customer just walks into an empty tent and pays for it.

Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun had weighed in on the issue, reminding tent operators to comply with the MPPD directive.

But the issue persists.

The situation at Teluk Kemang is a far cry from Pantai Cenang in Langkawi.

Like Teluk Kemang, Pantai Cenang has many beach activities.

From eateries lining up the beach to cosplay shows and fire performances at night, there is no shortage of activities.

Those choosing to watch the fire shows can sit on bean bags within a confined area.

Other beach-goers can go about their own plans without hassle.

Despite it attracting visitors from all over the world, Pantai Cenang is relatively clean, unlike Teluk Kemang which is mostly frequented by locals.

The comparison is perhaps slightly unbalanced, since Langkawi is the nation’s tourism jewel compared to Port Dickson.

But this also means that the island in Kedah holds the gold standard against which other tourism sites must be compared to.

Local authorities in Port Dickson might want to learn a thing or two from their counterparts in Langkawi.

It is understandable for a tourism destination to offer services and activities as this is a source of income for locals.

But too many attractions along the beach can result in a negative impact by turning visitors away, which may hurt business operators in the long run.

The other thing about Port Dickson that needs to be looked into are the unsightly abandoned hotel projects.

Something has to be done about these incomplete projects as they add no value and mar the otherwise beautiful scenery.

Some of the people I spoke to in Teluk Kemang claim that the water quality at Port Dickson’s beaches has deteriorated.

The relevant agencies need to follow up on these claims and clear any doubt, if this is indeed untrue.

Adverse changes to the beach will be disastrous for locals who rely on it to earn an income.

Until all of these issues are fixed, many people, myself included, may think twice about returning to Port Dickson.