No sign of trouble: Notices banning the consumption of alcohol along public beaches in Port Dickson have yet to be put up.
Signs indicating alcohol restrictions in Port Dickson yet to be installed
PORT DICKSON: There is no signs stating alcohol consumption is banned on public beaches in Port Dickson, despite the state government announcing the restriction three months ago.
Checks along certain stretches of popular beaches here showed that there were no notices put up to inform beachgoers that alcohol consumption was not allowed.
Existing notices only outlined prohibited activities like immoral behaviour, riding and driving vehicles including ATVs, littering, vandalism, camping, lighting bonfires or having barbeques without a proper base.
State local government development, housing and transport committee chairman J. Arul Kumar, when contacted, said the Port Dickson Municipal Council had yet to enforce the ruling, which was why the notices had yet to be put up.
“There are certain processes that need to be completed,” he said, adding that it also needs to be gazetted.
Arul Kumar said although enforcement had yet to start, the authorities can ask those consuming alcohol to disperse if they caused a nuisance.
On July 2, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun announced the ban on the consumption of alcoholic beverages in public recreational spaces such as parks, playgrounds, fields and beaches with immediate effect.
Although the proposed move had received backing from certain groups, others were critical of it, saying that this could harm tourism and also “violate the spirit of diversity”.
In fact, there are calls being made to the Negri Sembilan government to review the proposal, saying it may harm tourism in the resort town.
Those against the move hope that authorities will reconsider it to ensure that visitors, especially those from abroad, would not cancel their trips.
Retired hotelier Dominic Muthu expressed hope the ban will be reviewed, while admitting it was too early to tell if it would negatively impact tourism.
Muthu, who has been in the hospitality industry for decades, said he often saw groups of tourists enjoying their food and alcoholic beverages along public beaches.
“I once saw a group of Filipino women having some wine and food while sitting on a mat along a secluded area of a public beach. They were not noisy and cleaned up before they left,” he said.
Muthu said some people would also like to have a beer or two along the beach after work to as a way to unwind.
“Some people may just like to enjoy seeing the sunset while having a beer after work at the end of the day,” he asked.
Businessman TK Toh believed that a ban could harm tourism in the longer term.
He estimated that most of the foreign tourists from the Far East who visit Port Dickson enjoy taking strolls along the beach.
“After having their meals, they would get some beers or other alcoholic drinks and walk along the beach,” he said.
Toh also questioned the timing of the ban, since the state will be organising its Visit Negri Sembilan Year campaign in 2026.
However, Malaysian Association of Hotels secretary Andy Chong said tourist arrivals were still high despite news about a ban.
“We run a hotel at the PD Waterfront commercial-cum-tourism area and generally, the proposed ban has not affected us or other operators in the vicinity.
“Overall, there was a 20% slowdown in business for hotels here as well as in other parts of the country between April and July but this was attributed to economic factors and people being more careful with their money,” he said.
