State of disrepair: Chan pointing at the condition of the Kuala Kedah shore, a site of coastal erosion and frequent rubbish dumping.
ALOR SETAR: Once a seafood paradise and bustling jetty town, Kuala Kedah seems to have slipped into backwater status.
Business owners cite a lack of focus and loss of tourist appeal, while visitors say that a fresh sea breeze is a thing of the past.
Long forgotten as the parliamentary constituency of the nation’s founding father, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-haj, Kuala Kedah serves as a terminus for ferries to Langkawi.
Back in the 1990s and 2000s, it was a thriving hub with throngs of tourists heading there.
Jetty One Seafood restaurant owner Lim Boon Theong spoke out against the state government’s lack of attention on development.
“Not only has my business suffered significantly, other businesses in Kuala Kedah have closed down, with once-crowded seafood restaurants now struggling to fill even a handful tables,” he said.
Lim, who has been operating his restaurant for over 20 years, added that there were many empty tables at his restaurant, even on weekends.
“Why has the state government neglected Kuala Kedah to this extent, even though it is a key gateway to Langkawi? Even the jetty is in visible disrepair,” he said.
Former Alor Setar MP Tan Sri Chor Chee Heung agreed, saying that Kuala Kedah was a far cry from what it once was.
“The town used to be much livelier, with businesses, shops and restaurants packed with people,” he recalled.
The former housing and local government minister said the state government needed federal help to revitalise Kuala Kedah.
“The state government must be proactive. We need to improve its cleanliness and restore the town to its former glory,” he said.
Retired Universiti Utara Malaysia lecturer Victor Chan Kok Kian, 65, described the state of affairs in Kuala Kedah, where his late father once ran a seafood business, as “heartbreaking”.
“I recently visited Kuala Kedah after many years and was deeply saddened with the state of neglect.
“My father’s restaurant, named Terang Bulan, was a popular haunt and I recall many prominent people coming to enjoy a variety of seafood dishes. Visitors could see boats bringing in fresh seafood.
“Nothing is left of it now, with the land reclaimed. Even the fresh sea breeze is gone and the seawater doesn’t flow in as it used to. Instead, the place now smells unpleasant because of rubbish strewn all over,” he said.
Chan said coastal erosion also had an adverse effect, with unchecked dumping of waste further degrading the environment.
Kuala Kedah resident Muhammad Iqbal Hamdan, 30, said the town was struggling to attract tourists.
“Many travellers prefer Kuala Perlis as the shorter time to get to Langkawi is more convenient.
“As a result, Kuala Kedah sees fewer visitors, affecting its economy and tourism,” he said.
To make matters worse, he said there was a growing problem as many youths turn to drugs and working as illegal parking touts.
Kedah Tourist Guide Association chairman Mohd Firdaus Abu Bakar urged the state to revitalise Kuala Kedah.
“Infrastructure must be improved through collaboration between the federal and state governments,” he suggested.
Stressing the importance of environmental conservation, he said rivers and seafront must be kept clean to restore the area’s natural beauty.
Kuala Kedah MP Dr Ahmad Fakhruddin Fakhrurazi, when contacted, maintained that his constituency remained a popular destination in Kedah.
He said a new ferry terminal is expected to be completed in 2027.
“The landscape will change when the new jetty is ready,” he said, listing Pantai Leman, Kota Kuala Kedah Muzium, Padi Museum and Gunung Keriang as other attractions.
State tourism committee chairman Datuk Salleh Saidin said efforts were being taken to beautify the town to woo visitors.
“One is to clean up the Kampung Padang Garam shoreline and clearing the thick undergrowth,” he said, adding that phase one would be completed in several months time.
