| Khal Baharulalam |
TUNGKU Beach visitors and vendors have raised concerns over the fate of the popular destination after renovation notices were put up all over the beach a few weeks ago.
The Bulletin had recently reported on private property signs being erected at the site to the utter dismay of beach enthusiasts and small businesses.
Most concerns are centred on the possible closure of public access to the beach in the near future. Many even fear that rumours of a ban on entry to the public may come true.
The fate of Tungku Beach vendors were discussed during the recently-concluded Legislative Council session. Responding to concerns raised in the meeting, the Minister of Development, Dato Paduka Awang Haji Bahrin bin Abdullah, had said vendors may be asked to discontinue their activities in the future to make way for the Brunei Investment Agency (BIA), which owns the area, to go ahead with the development of the beach.
The Brunei Government is yet to take a decision on Tungku Beach’s impending fate.
When asked about its beach development plan, the BIA said “the matter will be looked into before putting up further notices.”
Notices of property development have been raising concerns. – KHAL BAHARULALAM
Being the most sought-after location in the Sultanate due to the open space concept, Tungku Beach has always provided good business for over a hundred small entrepreneurs spread by the coastline. They desperately hope “they will not be forced to discontinue their business activities” due to the upcoming development works.
The Weekend Bulletin spoke to several members of the community yesterday and most shared their displeasure over the proposed development plan.
An ATV (All-Terrain Vehicle) operator said that people are “getting more worried since the notice was put up” and their questions are going unanswered. “I have been doing this for almost a decade now, and Tungku Beach has clearly regained its glory in the last couple of years,” he said on the rising business prospects due to the increasing number of visitors to the beach.
One of the largest community beaches in the country, Tungku Beach has been clearly a crowd favourite with different sorts of events and activities enjoyed regularly by members of the public. “It would be a shame if Tungku Beach had to lose its heart of a big community during the course of development,” he said. “For some of us, this is part of our lifestyle.”
Meanwhile, Hajah Munah, a burger joint operator said, “What we (small vendors) love about this beach is the freedom of space on top of all things.” She has been operating out of Tungku since she was forced to move out of Serasa Beach two years ago due to space constraints.
The joyous spirit that usually encapsulates the beach, particularly during weekends, may not return in its full form if the beach is made inaccessible, said another food vendor.
“We will be forced to relocate. It will not be easy to find a place of business as free as Tungku Beach, but we will have to move on anyway.”
Most vendors shared that they do not mind “paying a small fee” as long as they have the permission to stay back and Tungku remains accessible to the public.
Activities have been on the rise in Tungku Beach including picnics, 4×4 excursions, camping, sea-turtle watching, and other water activities. Aside from that, Tungku Beach is also home to the Sultanate’s surfing community – a sport that has gained much momentum among beach-goers in the last few years, especially in Tungku.
Surfers are concerned over the possible restraints on practising their sport at the beach.
According to Hamdi Matussin, a member of the Tungku Beach Surfers group, “Tungku Beach will not have the same appeal should they really halt public access.”
While there are other beaches in the country, surfers regard Tungku as the best place for surfing, since other non-bay beaches connect to the open sea and are therefore regarded less safe.
He attributed the beach’s attraction to its “great wave breaks”. A surfer of Tungku waters in the past four years, Hamdi said the beach has become a popular base for gatherings of people from all walks of life to share mutual interests.
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