A researcher with Sahabat Alam Malaysia, who examined the erosion at the public beach last month, said she found the situation dire.

Mageswari Sangaralingam said the government must find the cause and provide information on the rate of erosion.

“How critical is the erosion now, and are reclamation projects contributing to this, as members of the public have voiced their suspicion that the coastal erosion is a result of reclamation?”

She said land reclamation and climate change had made the situation worse.

Beach workers told FMT that since early last year, trees and other structures along the shores have also been impacted by the disappearing beach front. They said some 30 trees were uprooted.

However, state executive councillor Zairil Khir Johari said a 380m stretch of the beach is being restored after it was affected by erosion.

He said short-term mitigation began in January, with a 20m stretch near Golden Sands Resort and another 180m from the resort last month.

Zairil said work on another 180m stretch would begin next month, under the supervision of the Penang drainage and irrigation department.

“As for the Rasa Sayang section, the resort has engaged a consultant to study a mitigation plan for further action,” he told FMT.

Citizen Awareness Chant group adviser Yan Lee said a tidal study must be urgently carried out by an independent consultant, instead of ones hired by developers, as practised in the past.

“Batu Ferringhi has been special to Penangites for its soft, white sand. The beach is the crown jewel of Penang and is much beloved by locals and tourists,” he said.