adminLUMUT: More than 3,000 visitors to Teluk Nipah Beach near Pangkor Island were excited to have the opportunity to walk 400 metres on the sandbar connecting to Giam Island following the phenomenon of the sea splitting due to low tide.
Director of the Manjung Municipal Council (MPM) Duty Free Island Management Unit, Anas Malek Ishak, said visitors could enjoy the phenomenon for about an hour and a half, which was expected to last for three days starting today.
He said MPM was also working with enforcement and security agencies such as the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) and the Malaysian Fisheries Department to ensure that visitors could cross the sandbar safely.
“This is because while crossing the sandbar, visitors will encounter species of sea cucumbers, corals, squid, fish and various other marine life, so some may step on them because they don’t notice.
“The fire department and APM will blow the whistle when the water rises again and ask visitors to return to land because we do not want any untoward incident to occur,” he said when met here today.
Pangkor Island Fire and Rescue Station Chief Mohd Saiful Bahri Abdul Talib said 10 personnel and three assets from the Emergency Medical Services Unit (EMRS), the Water Rescue Team (PPDA) and rescue vehicles were on standby in case of any emergency during the three days the phenomenon lasted.
“We started releasing visitors at water levels of 0.3 to 0.4 metres and when it gets closer to noon, we will ask visitors to immediately go ashore because the water is rising quickly,” he said.
Meanwhile, Pangkor Police Station Chief Inspector Muhamad Faizol Kamaluddin said 17 personnel, including tourist police, were assigned to the beach area.
“We (the police) are placing more emphasis on safety aspects so that parents are not complacent with their children playing in the water, and visitors also need to be careful to take care of their personal belongings to avoid losing or dropping them,” he said.
Meanwhile, Swiss tourist Alf Zeigler, 64, said he was excited to experience the phenomenon of the sea splitting for the first time with his family members.
“A lot of people here are like a party. It’s amazing with so many people walking together, regardless of religion or country, just sharing the experience together.
“There is no reason to be afraid of the phenomenon because we also see sea cucumber species and many marine habitats.
“It’s a wonderful way to experience the ocean and sand,” he said here.
A teacher from Taiping, D Syimala, 36, said he had long wanted to come to Teluk Nipah Beach to experience the phenomenon of the sea splitting for himself, but circumstances did not allow it due to time constraints and work commitments.
“I feel very happy to be able to cross the divided sea because this is my first experience with my husband and other relatives.
“At first I was a bit scared, but when I crossed to Giam Island, I felt very satisfied,” he said.
— BERNAMA
