A COUPLE walk along Klebang Beach passing other local tourists enjoying the breeze of the Straits of Malacca as the sun sets.
The picturesque landscape with white sand attracts people to the artificial beach, hundreds of metres away from the beach’s initial location. However, for Klebang folk who rely on the sea, the reclamation is robbing them of their sustenance. To produce cencaluk and belacan, they have to use imported small shrimps called udang geragau from Batam as the seafood no longer exists there after the reclamation.
Thousands more coastal fishermen from other parts of Malacca share the same problem. Fishermen from the Kristang community of Ujong Pasir frequently return from sea empty-handed. For a better catch, they have to travel further but they are not able to do that for two reasons. Firstly, they will enter international waters and second, it is not safe for the fishermen on small boats to cast their nets at one of the busiest straits in the world.
Despite the uproar voices of the coastal community, the Malacca government in April proposed a new Malacca Waterfront Economic Zone, which covered 10,117ha and 33km of stretch from northern Malacca near Sg Udang to the south in Umbai. This economic zone will require a new reclamation, in addition to the 1,327ha of existing reclaimed land.
Yet, only 8% of the land are being developed. – November 18, 2021.
An excavator shifting the sand flattering the sand dunes on the reclamation land. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, November 18, 2021.Shahbandar jetty and Plaza Mahkota at the estuary of Sg Melaka. The commercial area of Plaza Mahkota and its neighbouring area of Melaka Raya were built in the 1990s on reclamation land, one of the earliest massive reclamation projects in the state. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, November 18, 2021.Fishermen of Tg Bruas preparing to go out to sea. The area of Tg Bruas is planned as a Malacca Harbourfront, a centre for activities such as port, trade, cargo and other shipping activities under the Malacca Waterfront Economic Zone. It is the north point of 33km spanning M-WEZ. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, November 18, 2021.One of many stalls along the coastal road of Jalan Klebang Besar in Klebang selling locally produced seafood products. Reclamation poses a threat to the businesses. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, November 18, 2021.A sand dredger stranded on reclaimed land at the coast of the Straits of Malacca. Dredgers are used to extract sand from Malacca strait seabed. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, November 18, 2021.A fisherman makes way for surveyors from a reclamation company to do their land surveying work at Ujong Pasir. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, November 18, 2021.A view of the coastline of Umbai. The area is an attraction for people to enjoy their dinner, with the Straits of Malacca as a backdrop. Under the M-WEZ, the reclamation will start from the coast of Umbai in the south of Malacca and will take away the view . – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, November 18, 2021.Melaka Gateway on Pulau Melaka was launched in 2014 but most of the buildings are empty today. Some are not completed. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, November 18, 2021.Sail banners are erected along a road to the RM6.5 billion mixed development project at Kota Laksamana. It is part of the Central Eco Business Park of the Malacca Waterfront Economic Zone. The Sail Malacca features nine towers, each comprising 61 storeys, consisting of more than 3,259 units of high-end condotels – three five-star and six-star hotel towers. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, November 18, 2021.Several high-rise buildings in construction on reclaimed land against a small hut used by coastal fishermen. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, November 18, 2021.People spend their evening on an artificial beach, which replaces Klebang beach. Some sand dredgers and carriers are anchored off the coast. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, November 18, 2021.Graffitis on a wall in Tg Bruas depict concerns over land reclamation in Malacca. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, November 18, 2021.
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