Tioman islanders and tourists grapple with water shortage

WITH its natural beauty still largely untouched, Pulau Tioman draws thousands of tourists yearly. Yet, clean water supply seems hard to come by on the island. 

Entrepreneur Abdul Khalid Mohamad said he had been searching for a long time for a fresh water source to supply clean water to his chalets in Kampung Salang but has been unsuccessful.  

As long as the 48-year old Tioman native can remember, water has been a daily problem for the islanders.  

Hardest hit are the 3,200 residents of Kampung Salang, Air Batang, Tekek, Genting, Mukut, Lanting, Nipah and Juara. 

The villagers argue that the promotion of eco-tourism among local and foreign tourists would not be successful if this basic amenity is not made available easily.  

While many foreign and local tourists want Tioman to retain its natural environment as a tourist attraction, Khalid is of the view that natural beauty alone is insufficient if there is no guarantee of continuous water supply. 

“Can local residents and visitors enjoy the beauty of the natural surroundings when they have to live their lives in difficulty because there is no water to drink, cook or wash?”  

Khalid, a former Tenaga Nasional Bhd employee, said he had often argued with the authorities on the implementation of infrastructure projects on the island because the persistent water shortage was making visitors unhappy.  

He said some European tourists had even thrown their accommodation money on the ground in exasperation because the water supply to their chalets had been disrupted. 

Efforts to obtain continuous clean water supply is an uphill task because Tioman has no river, water catchment area, lake or underground spring.  

The monsoon season from October to January is a blessing to its residents because the water absorbed into the ground could be pumped out and stored, said Khalid. 

Pumping ground water however, is expensive. 

Khalid said he does not know if the authorities will resolve the water shortage. 

He said projects currently being carried out such the jetty upgrade at Kampung Tekek and Kampung Mukut, a waste disposal system, a sewage system and the relocation of the residents should continue.  

However, he stressed that the most important resource the residents need is a water supply system. – Bernama