Penang: The Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) in Penang is set to install higher sandbag barriers along the coastlines of Tanjung Bungah and Batu Ferringhi in a bid to combat coastal erosion caused by unusually high waves that have affected these areas since last year.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, State Infrastructure, Transport and Digital Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari stated that the short-term mitigation measure will involve raising the height of the sandbag barriers to counteract potential sea level rises of up to approximately 0.6 meters. Technical assessments revealed that wave heights last year exceeded the normal level by about 0.6 meters, which rendered the existing sandbag barriers ineffective in containing water beyond a certain point.
Zairil explained that when waves become notably higher, the water overflows and pushes the barriers outward, exacerbating erosion due to these unusually high wave conditions. He made these comments while addressing reporters at the Penang Nature-Based Climate Adaptation Award Programme. The coastal erosion at Batu Ferringhi has notably impacted the scenic view of this popular tourist destination.
The state DID is currently appointing a contractor to execute these short-term mitigation efforts, which include determining the new height for the sandbag barriers to offer improved protection against rising sea levels. These measures are expected to last about a year, with ongoing efforts to enhance their durability.
In parallel, DID is in the process of finalizing the design for a long-term mitigation project, estimated to cost around RM60 million, aimed at permanently addressing coastal erosion. Zairil highlighted that previous mitigation projects have successfully improved beach conditions, and similar strategies, such as the construction of wave breakers, outfalls, and beach nourishment, will be considered for Batu Ferringhi.
He further mentioned that the final design of the project, covering a three-kilometer stretch from Tanjung Bungah to Batu Ferringhi, will be completed once DID concludes its technical studies.