The sea still comes and goes along Penang’s northern coast. But for those who grew up beside it, something deeper has shifted.
What was once a stretch of inviting sandy coastline has, over the past two decades, steadily given way to erosion, murky waters and vanishing recreational spaces. Residents and visitors describe an indescribable feeling of loss.
Factory worker Nazir Hamdan, 50, has frequented Pantai Bersih in Butterworth and nearby coastal spots for more than 20 years. He recalls a time when families gathered in large numbers and children swam freely.
“Back then, the beach was lively. I used to bring my children here often,” he told the New Straits Times, adding that the shoreline has deteriorated to the point where swimming is no longer appealing.
Nazir said coastal changes became noticeable about 15 years ago, with rocky embankments introduced in areas such as Pantai Bersih to counter erosion. Even with those efforts, the beach kept shrinking.
“It is hard to explain. It is not just different, it feels empty,” he said. “It is like something is missing that you cannot replace.”
Affendi Hamid, 38, shares the same sentiment.
“I tell my children stories about how it used to be, but when we stand here now, it is like I am talking about a different place. It is not just disappointment. It is something deeper, it is like you are losing a part of your past.”
He said marine life, once common along the Pantai Bersih coast, has also diminished.
“Four years ago, you could find large groupers and seabass. The seabed was different,” he said, adding that he still brings his three children there occasionally, though conditions have worsened.
At Batu Ferringhi, that emotional weight is intertwined with worry. Khairul Izdihar Ismail, 36, who works along the beach, said the coastline’s transformation has created a constant sense of unease.
“Even when nothing happens, you feel like something might.”
He recently witnessed a coastal tree collapse during a night of strong winds and rain.
“The next day, part of the stone embankment gave way, and my friend was injured after falling,” he said, adding that such incidents were rare in the past.
Since February, Khairul has observed at least eight large casuarina trees collapsing along the Batu Ferringhi beach. He attributed the situation to worsening soil erosion.
“Before 2015, the beach was wide, maybe up to 40m and always crowded. Over the past three years, it has gradually disappeared. Now there is barely space for activities,” he added.
Khairul believed sand extraction and coastal development projects had altered natural sea currents.
“There were times when sand was taken from one area and moved elsewhere. It affected the seabed. Now it is muddy, the water smells, and the current pushes silt back to shore,” he said.
“People come expecting a beach, but there is hardly any left.”
Source: NST
