KEDAH -PULAU SAYAK & KUALA MUDA

By Hj Zulheimy Maamor

1 March 2024 : 7.12 pm

PULAU SAYAK

Kampung Pulau Sayak is located approximately 30 km from the hotel we stayed at, D'Vista Hotel Sungai Petani, Kedah. I can still remember the name of Kg Pulau Sayak because this is one of the places in Malaysia where the sighting of the new moon determines the start of the fasting month of Ramadan for Muslims in Malaysia.

I had the opportunity to visit Pulau Sayak when I was attending the Awareness Program Coordination Meeting at Central Square, Sungai Petani, on February 18, 2014. I never thought that I would be able to set foot in a place that I had often heard about before the beginning of the fasting month of Ramadan.

Thanks to my old friend Osman bin Desa, who resides in Tikam Batu, Kedah, for bringing me to Pulau Sayak to enjoy the famous Mee Udang (prawn noodles). Osman was my former shipmate at KD Ganas (RMN Ship) in Woodlands, Singapore, in 1981, when we both served with the Royal Malaysian Navy. Actually, this is not the first time I met Osman Desa. The first time I met him was in Gelugor, Penang, in 2012, and then in Kuala Nerang, Kedah, in the same year.

Usof Mee Udang is the best prawn noodles in Pulau Sayak, with a beautiful view near the seashore. The prawns are big and full on one plate, taste good at a reasonable price, and are highly recommended.

TSUNAMI MONUMENT

I took the opportunity to visit the historical place located in Kota Kuala Muda, Kedah, which is about 8 km from Pulau Sayak.

The tsunami monument in Kedah is officially known as the Kota Kuala Muda Tsunami Memorial (or Dataran Tsunami). Located in the village of Kampung Tepi Sungai in the Kota Kuala Muda district, it stands as a somber tribute to the victims of the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami that struck on December 26, 2004.

Location: Kampung Kepala Jalan, 08500 Kota Kuala Muda, Kedah. It is about a 20–30 minute drive from Sungai Petani.

The Tsunami monument which was built in remembrance of the victims who lost their lives on December 24,  2004. Located at Kampung Permatang Katong, the gallery features haunting photographs of the disaster's aftermath, which resulted in the loss of life and property. The Kota Kuala Muda was the worst hit in Malaysia with 10 villages devastated while some coastal areas of Penang, Perlis and Selangor were also affected. 

The centerpiece of the memorial is a striking sculpture made of 26 damaged fishing boats stacked on top of each other. The number 26 was specifically chosen to represent the date of the disaster (December 26).

Right next to the monument, a row of houses destroyed by the waves has been preserved in their wrecked state. They are shielded by a low wall, allowing visitors to see the raw power of the water that tore through the village.

The monument commemorating the event was constructed using 26 fishing boats that were damaged by the waves. The number 26 signifies the date of December 26, 2004.

A small museum called Galeri Tsunami contains information about tsunamis in general, including how they are caused and the damage suffered in various countries around the Indian Ocean during the 26 December 2004 Tsunami.

Kota Kuala Muda lost 11 lives (though some records mention 12–17 across the wider district) and saw hundreds of homes destroyed. The monument isn't just a tourist spot; it is a site of "dark tourism" that reminds locals and visitors alike of the resilience of the fishing community and the importance of disaster preparedness.

Wikipedia : Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, KL

1/3/2024 > 20 Syaaban 1445H: 8.50 pm