It is official:our sea levels are expected to rise

The Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Ministry Tan Sri Joseph Kurup quoted a national coastal vulnerability index study conducted by the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) in 2006, predicted that sea levels off the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia will rise by 10cm to 13cm in the next 100 years.

He added that sea levels on the west coast of Pulau Langkawi would rise by 10cm while at Tanjung Piai, Johor, it is expected to increase by 13cm. Tanjung Piai is the southernmost point of mainland Asia.

Checks revealed that 288.4km or 6% of the peninsula’s 4,809km-long coast is being eroded by sea water. The erosion of the seafront affects beach properties and sea related economic activities.It was reported that the Ministry is taking both short-term and long-term measures in response to the problem of coastal erosion.

Short-term measures include carrying out engineering works and construction of erosion control structures.

“So far, 140km of affected coastline have been rehabilitated. Among the areas rehabilitated are Kemaman beach (Terengganu), Kuala Sala Kecil and Kampung Kangkung, Yan (Kedah) and the Miri - Kuala Baram coastline in Sarawak,” added Kurup.

He said in the long-term, DID has implemented an integrated shoreline management plan to prevent shoreline erosion from worsening. No further details on the long term solution were provided.

Let us just hope that while the government rehabilitate the 288.4km of coastline affected, no new areas are  eroded; which is quite impossible. The DID would then be endlessly trying to patch up our shores.