Jeti Nelayan Permatang Tepi Laut, Bayan Lepas

Jeti Nelayan Permatang Tepi Laut (15 December 2018)

Jeti Nelayan Permatang Tepi Laut (GPS: 5.28158, 100.25653) is a riverine pier along Sungai Bayan Lepas in Bayan Lepas, Penang. It is within the village of Permatang Tepi Laut, which itself is within Permatang Damar Laut. This is the place where coastal and estuarine fishermen bring in their catch. There is a simple concrete wharf. Near the wharf is a coffee shop for the fishermen to hang out after a day's work.

A rural path skirts the side of Sungai Bayan Lepas, connecting the fishermen's wharf to the main road. There is also a Malay village with clusters of houses, some of them hugging close to the shore. To prevent erosion, an enforcement of rocks have been placed along the coast.

The Permatang Damar Laut Coast is a stretch of mudflats. Standing like forlorn sentinels along the coast are two World War II pillboxes. One of these have slipped into the water and is in an advanced stage of disrepair, while the other, roughly midway down the coast, is still well preserved.

The community hall for the fishermen of Permatang Damar Laut was rebuilt in 2017.

My visits to Jeti Nelayan Permatang Tepi Laut

Although I grew up in Permatang Damar Laut, as a grown up, I revisited this area in 2016. Then recently, I revisited on 15 December, 2018. I had a chance to chitchat with the villagers who were relaxing at the jetty area. They are friendly rural folks. From my conversation with them, I learned that they are aware of the impending land reclamation off the coast of Permatang Damar Laut, but do not appear too disturbed by it.