THE once nutrient-rich soil surrounding a tributary in Besut, Terengganu, has been left riddled with holes as many trespass in search of gold.
Harian Metro reported that Kampung Bukit Tasik Apal is affected the most as the heavily disturbed soil has resulted in some villagers’ crop trees toppling over due to soil erosion.
Village Development and Security Committee chairman Ibrahim Jusoh said they first noticed illegal gold digger activity in 2020 and it has worsened since.
“Outsiders have frequently been seen entering the river to pan for gold and despite issuing warnings, they ignored us.
“The land in question is designated as agricultural land with registered landowners. They do not allow their land to be used for gold panning as it can ruin the soil structure in their orchards,” he said.
Ibrahim said the gold prospecting is focused along a 100m stretch of the tributary with many crops planted along the river having fallen over as a result.
“They have also been digging the soil and shifting river rocks, causing movement in the soil structure.
“We are concerned that if these stubborn individuals continue their activities, it could pose safety risks to the villagers,” he said.
> Despite having pristine, calm waters, the ever-present danger of jellyfish at Pantai Teluk Senangin in Segari, Perak, has left even local residents fearful of going for a dip, Kosmo! reported.
Local resident Mohd Razak Yatim, 46, said despite having lived nearby for decades, he has never swam there due to jellyfish.
“Even if we come to this beach, it’s just to enjoy the sea breeze. Anyone who is daring enough to swim is welcome to do so, as there are no restrictions,” he said.
The daily reported that other frequent local beach-goers also shared experiences of being stung keeping them out of the water.
More than 30 participants of the Teluk Senangin Open Water Swim 2025 competition held last week were reported to have been stung by jellyfish.
The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a, it denotes a separate news item.
