Rubbish likely drifts in from upriver towns, says expert

New Straits Times

22-04-2025

KUALA MUDA: A key contributor to the pollution of Pantai Tanjung Dawai is garbage and debris from rivers in the northern part of the state, said a marine and coastal studies expert.
Universiti Sains Malaysia's (USM) Professor Datuk Dr Aileen Tan said rubbish washing ashore on the beach likely flowed from upriver towns into the sea via Sungai Merbok before tidal currents brought it back inland.
"There is no definitive study on Pantai Tanjung Dawai, but the composition of the rubbish from images shared by residents suggests it is most likely domestic waste from upstream," she told the New Straits Times.
"The tidal behaviour suggests it drifts in from upstream towns."
Tan, who is USM's Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies director, said without a control mechanism upstream, clean-up efforts at the beach will remain short-lived.
She proposed installing rubbish barriers near the river mouth of Sungai Merbok and filtration traps in stormwater systems in towns to tackle the issue at the source.
"A 1994 study on the Merbok estuary found that tides in shallow nearshore zones reverse earlier than deeper waters, pushing debris towards the shore, where it gets trapped."
She added that fostering community-led monitoring and integrating coastal waste awareness into local policy would also be critical for long-term change.
Universiti Utara Malaysia maritime affairs expert Associate Professor Dr Zaki Ahmad said the beach's location near the Sungai Merbok mouth makes it a natural catchment for marine debris.
"The rubbish in Pantai Tanjung Dawai can be attributed to its geography. It lies at a river mouth, while Pantai Merdeka is sheltered within an enclosed bay," he said.
"Prevailing ocean currents and wind direction carry floating debris towards Pantai Tanjung Dawai. The shoreline's shape and tidal patterns further contribute to the accumulation."
Zaki said Pantai Merdeka remains cleaner because it is less exposed to these direct currents.
"There's also a possibility that the rubbish could have originated from other settlements or towns along the river, such as Sungai Petani or Alor Star."
Yusrizal Yusoff, president of the Consumers Association of Kedah, expressed concern about the situation as it reflected a deeper issue with consumer behaviour.
"Malaysian's attitude to waste disposal is very disappointing. Much of the waste, particularly plastic, ends up polluting the environment.
"We cannot rely solely on the authorities or cleaners to handle this. It is everyone's responsibility to manage their waste."