Erosion at critical level at two Labuan beaches

LABUAN: More than 20 beaches on this duty-free island are facing erosion, with two of them at a critical stage.

Labuan Irrigation and Drainage Department director Juniaddi Awang Tuah said one beach is at Kg Sg Miri/Sg Pagar while the other is Kiamsam beach at the Labuan Crude Oil Terminal (LCOT).

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“Based on a national coastal erosion study conducted in 2015 which is still relevant today, more than 20 coastal areas were projected to be hit by erosion… the study predicted that the hardest-hit areas will be at Sg Miri and Kiamsam,” he said on Wednesday (July 13).

He said the government had approved RM11mil for the construction of a sea wall at the worst-hit part of the Sg Miri/Sg Pagar beach.

“The 730m sea wall project commenced in November and is to be completed in two years. For the LCOT beach, we will provide technical advice to the oil company to do something about it,” he said.

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He said it was projected that Labuan’s coastline would be badly affected by erosion without mitigation measures being taken now.

“Measures by the government to minimise the damage will become increasingly expensive,” he added.

Juniaddi said the two beaches faced the open South China Sea.

He also said the department had applied to the Environment and Water Ministry for an allocation of RM20mil for coastal protection infrastructure at the Tanjung Aru Nelayan beach. – Bernama