PONTIAN: RESIDENTS of Kampung Permata, a fishing village here, are living in fear as the foundation of their houses situated near the mangroves could collapse due to coastal erosion.
The recent erosion caused by the strong tidal waves had affected 30 houses in the village where the damage can be seen at the rear section of the houses.
The force of the crashing waves has also caused the sinking of the kitchen floor.
Housewife Maznah Mat, 49, said the coastal erosion on the villagers houses was a long-standing problem in the village.
She said the coastal erosion had caused most of the wild mangrove forest trees and shrubs growing around the area to be uprooted. The trees have been swept away to the open sea by strong currents, thus exposing the nearby houses to the risk of collapse.
“I remember villagers used to place barrier sacks along the back of the houses to prevent further erosion, but the efforts seem futile as the barrier sacks were also swept away by the strong currents,” she said.
Maznah also said that due to the erosion at the back of her house, she was forced to do all her cooking and preparation of meals in the living room.
“I am scared to cook in the kitchen as the floor might just give way,” she said.
Basir Sihat, 81, said the force of the tidal waves when it crashes on the back wall of his house was frightening.
“Every time a strong wave crashes against the house, it feels like a boulder hitting the wall. I fear that one day, my whole house might be dragged down to the sea,” he said.
Pontian member of parliament Datuk Ahmad Maslan said the coastal erosion in the village needed to be checked and plans for a breakwater concrete barrier development along the coastal areas are in the pipeline.
“In order to repair the coastal damage and check erosion, a concrete retaining wall will be built,” he said,
Ahmad, who is also deputy finance minister, said the first phase of the project would start soon and is expected to be completed within two months at a cost of RM500,000.
“The second phase of the project is the breakwater barrier wall which will be erected at a cost of RM4.5 million. The funding for the project comes from the Federal Government,” he said.
Ahmad said he hoped that when the coastal rehabilitation project is completed, the foundation of the houses here would no longer be threatened by erosion.
-NST
