File image shows Lee (centre) and officials in a group photo, with the ‘Drinking Horse’ rock landmark behind them, during a site visit to Tusan Beach on Aug 16 last year.
MIRI: A meeting would be called tomorrow (Feb 24) to identify the cause behind the collapse of Tusan Beach’s iconic ‘Drinking Horse’ rock formation.
According to Assistant Minister of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Rosey Yunus, the meeting will take place in Bekenu and involves the key representatives of Subis District Office and Subis District Council, as well as a number of technical officers.
“It’s so sad that the ‘Drinking Horse’, which had served as the main tourist attraction at Tusan Beach for years, is now gone – nothing is left at the site except a pile of rubble,” she said when contacted yesterday.
Rosey, who is also Bekenu assemblywoman, said the infrastructure upgrading works on Tusan Beach would still run.
“Actually, there is a scope of works under this upgrading project, covering the construction of wave breakers and a retaining wall to protect the Tusan cliff from further erosion.
“However, it’s very sad that we’re not in time to save the beach’s iconic landmark.”
When called, Transport Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin regarded Tusan Beach as being ‘very close’ to his heart during his former days as the Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture.
In 2017, Lee led local tourism stakeholders in a mission to save the Tusan cliff – including the famous rock formation that resembled the head of a horse bowing down, ‘as if it was drinking’ – from erosion.
This kicked off the plan to develop the beach area with the necessary recreational infrastructure.
“The infrastructure upgrading project for the beach is still going on, and should reach completion by end of this year
“It’s really sad that we have failed to save the unique rock formation.”
In view of that, Lee wanted the relevant authorities to conduct thorough investigation into the incident. The minister said he would also be looking forward to the initiative of building a replica of the ‘Drinking Horse’, set to take over as the beach’s new landmark.
In a similar sentiment, Miri Mayor Adam Yii proposed for the government to consider building the replica of the ‘lost landmark’.
“The Sarawak government has allocated quite a huge sum of money to develop the tourist attractions at Tusan Beach. This effort is still on-going to protect Tusan cliff from erosion. Still, it’s sad that the ‘Drinking Horse’ is now gone.”