KOTA BARU: Residents near Kampung Pantai Kundur beach here have begun their preparations for the high tide phenomenon expected to occur during this monsoon season.
A check yesterday found that residents have begun constructing a wave breaker in their backyard to prevent seawater and big waves from entering their homes.
Mek Jah Yaacob, 58, who has lived in the village for more than 40 years, said her family started constructing the 10m-long wave breaker since last month.
“Our family has placed nearly 100 gunny sacks containing sand around the back of the house as this is the easiest way to form a barrier against the big waves, ” she said.
A mother of 18, aged between 15 and 42, she said with the arrival of the monsoon season, those living near the sea would be feeling uneasy.
“My family will be on high alert at all times and feeling anxious because we are constantly worried about any untoward incident that can occur, ” she said.
Mek Jah recalled that during last year’s monsoon season, big waves and strong winds hit the back wall of her house as the distance to the beach was only about 10m.
Another resident, Mohammed Azmi Ramli, 39, who had taken similar steps to build the wave breaker, said he was worried about the phenomenon even though he had been through it for the past 10 years.
He said the Drainage and Irrigation Department had built a concrete wave breaker to prevent heavy erosion in the area, but the effort did not seem to solve the problem of coastal erosion.
“Ten years ago, the distance between the beach and our house was more than 2km apart, now we are only a few metres from the beach.
“I hope the relevant parties can raise the level of the existing concrete wave breaker because at any time, the big waves can easily surpass its height, ” he said. — Bernama
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