MELAKA: Drone technology and addressing the scarcity of lifeguards at the popular Pantai Puteri recreational beach are among the additional pledges of Tangga Batu candidate Datuk Lim Ban Hong.
He said it is time to look into introducing drone technology to tell swimmers and lifeguards alike when the water is safe to swim and when they are at risk.
"The beachfront needs a better monitoring system, as well as an increase of lifeguards, in view that it is often crowded during holidays," he said after rushing to help a one-year-old boy and his mother who were injured after a pine tree uprooted and fell on them.
The victims from Bangi, Selangor, were picnicking at the beachfront when the incident happened at 6.30pm on Saturday (Nov 12).
Lim, who was on his election campaign trail, rushed to the scene together with Pantai Kundor assemblyman Tuminah Kadi after getting the information on the incident.
Both the victims were later rushed to Melaka Hospital in an ambulance.
Lim said he has made the safety of beachgoers a top priority and will include the agenda as an additional part of his manifesto.
On Nov 4, a six-year-old boy drowned at the beachfront and there have been many similar incidents over the past years.
"I want to minimise these types of incidents
“It's so heartbreaking to see such an incident," he said.
Lim, who is also the Klebang assemblyman, said he will also ask the local council to trim the trees along the Pantai Puteri seafront.
He said using drone-based technology will also help the lifeguards to monitor the safety as well as risks posed to swimmers.
On Friday (Nov 11), Lim unveiled his Barisan Nasional manifesto for Tangga Batu parliament that includes, among others, resolving traffic congestion at the parliamentary constituency, problems relating to the Sungai Udang Landfill site, upgrading the economic status of fishermen and building a centralised business hub.
Lim will face Pakatan Harapan candidate Rusnah Aluai and Perikatan Nasional's Bakri Jamaluddin and Ghazali Abu of Gerakan Tanah Air and Independent Mohammad Shahril Mahmood in this 15th General Election.
