Kampung Sungai Berong Residents Want Damage To Breakwater Repaired Quickly

BATU PAHAT, Nov 12 (Bernama) -- Residents around Kampung Sungai Berong Laut, Rengit, here, are increasingly worried as the problem of the damaged breakwater seawall has occurred more frequently, over seven times, with last week's incident being the latest.

A resident, Azman Samion, 60, said that last year the breakwater was damaged several times due to high tide, but it only caused minor damage and was not as severe as this time, with water levels said to be more than three metres.

He said that besides affecting residents' homes, the harvest of crops consisting of coconuts and oil palm is also difficult to obtain, as residents' farms are still 'submerged' in water.

“The residents' income will also be affected in the long term as crop yields will be stunted... this is because the resulting fruits do not reach the quality set for sale.

“We, the residents here (Kampung Sungai Berong Laut), hope for immediate action from the responsible authorities so that incidents like this can be dealt with effectively,” he told Bernama during a survey of the effects of the high tide phenomenon here today.

Azman further explained that in addition to the affected crops, he, who works part-time catching shrimp with a cast net, also admitted that his catch at the langgai (a type of fishing platform/structure) has also been affected due to the phenomenon.

Meanwhile, the State Assemblyman (ADUN) for Senggarang, Mohd Yusla Ismail, said his office is aware of the high tide incident which caused damages to the breakwater at several locations.

He said that according to the preliminary report by the contractors involved, approximately 100 metres of the problematic breakwater need immediate repair.

“Initial repair work has begun involving the area from Kampung Sungai Berong up to Parit Botak, with 46 metres covered yesterday.

“Compensation will also be given to the heads of household and channeled by the state government through the area's ADUN, totaling RM3,000,” he said when contacted.

--BERNAMA