Plastic sheets are used as temporary measure to stop the erosion at Tusan cliff.
MIRI: The landscape of Tusan Beach in Bekenu has changed due to destruction caused by soil erosion on the cliff wall down to the sea front during high tide the last few months.
Many of those visiting the famous beach fear that if there is no concrete action taken by the authorities the Tusan cliff wall will continue to erode.
A visitor from Miri, Ata Kassim, said he was sad to see the wall where the erosion occurred was still covered with plastic sheets as temporary measure and the authorities had not given any time frame for the situation to be addressed.
“Erosion will continue to occur and concrete measures must be taken immediately or else Tusan Beach cliff will be eroded from time to time,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday.
He suggested that the authorities build a retaining wall like ‘rock climbing wall’ to prevent further soil erosion.
Apart from that, he also suggested that a trail be permanently built along the cliff from Tusan to Peliau beach which will not only give tourists the feel of sea breeze but also enable them to see the landscape, the rock formation, sea and beach along the route.
“The present trail was made by local villagers to give tourists the experience of walking from Peliau beach to Tusan beach,” he said.
Sharing the same view, a tourist from Brunei, Habebah Mokti, proposed that signboards be put up to show the direction to the drinking donkey cliff, trail, rock formations and water sport activities for the ease of visitors.
She lamented that, presently, the only attractions are the donkey cliff, the stalls and the occasional performance by a band on Sundays.
“Think of something that can bring in more tourists to see the beauty of Tusan beach like encouraging fishermen to go out to sea during the weekends and sell their fresh catch there,” she said.
She said more concrete efforts were needed to make Tusan Beach as beautiful and attractive as the beaches in Sabah that had all the necessary facilities and utilities.
The stall operators at Tusan Beach are also hoping that the soil erosion will be addressed soon so that that they can do business as usual.