Kuala Muda: A decade after the tsunami

A decade has passed after the tragic tsunami hit the coasts of a few states in the northern parts of West Malaysia.

Penang was one of the states that was affected by the disaster, when more than 60 victims perished in the tragedy.

Apart from Batu Feringghi, Teluk Bahang, Pulau Betong and Tanjung Bungah, the coastal areas of Kuala Muda in Penaga, Kepala Batas were also hit by the “giant waves” that was never expected by any of the locals there.

Not only were their homes destroyed, but the tragedy on December 26, 2004 also paralyzed all fishing activities when all the fishing boats as well as their tools were destroyed.

As a consequence, all business operations involving marine products on land were halted.

However, after 10 years have passed, the development that has undergone year after year has not only given the coasts of Kuala Muda a facelift, but also has made it more popular.

Astro Awani revisited the Kuala Muda area and found that numerous amenities have been developed by the government through the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS) and the Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia (LKIM) such as new jetties for fishermen, stalls and others.

“JPS has done some upgrading to this area. Apart from the new residences, we have also built new roofed-jetties. We have been receiving a lot of tourists from out of town, especially on the weekends,” said a fish-seller, Mohd. Nor Ibrahim.

The arrival of many tourists to that area in a way helped boom local businesses, as well as improve the area's economic status.

From just a few stalls before this, now a lot of the locals have taken the opportunity to venture into the food and beverages (F&B) industry by selling food along the stretch of stalls there.

However, they are urging the authorities to provide several more facilities to turn the area into a more comfortable milieu for locals and tourists and foreign tourists.

Apart from the developments around the coastal area, residences have also changed to a better and more secured residential area.