MAIN PANTAI

This is Pantai Batu Burok, Kuala Terengganu at sunrise. A long long time ago when I had all my teeth, after the "orang darat" were done mengetang (harvesting) their padi, there would be rows upon rows of attap or kajang huts erected on this stretch of beach. Every year in the 60s, we had this temporary migration of people and families from Bukit Payong, Bukit Bayas, Sungai Ular, Serada, Pasir Panjang and all the other places without access to the beach. They came for the annual festival known locally as Main Pantai. They and their family camped at the beach for 3 ari 3 malang (3 days and 3 nights). Since it wasn't convenient to bring their livestock along, the men had to occassionally return home to check on the kambing (goats), lembu (cows) or keruba (buffaloes).

Besides having fun on the beach and in the surf there were cultural presentations like the rodat, wayang kulit and sometimes even an ulik mayang presentation. The shows were not sponsored by any companies even though unlighted cigarettes were thrown at the mak inang rodat by appreciative members of the audience. Cigarette companies take note: The practice is still prevalent today in villages wherever rodat is performed.

Since cars were not aplenty yet in Kuala Terengganu at this time, the popular mode of transport was the bicycle. Our scout troop (1st KT) made money by running a bicycle park service. We were the only one with metal parking tickets. Our Scout Master, Mr.Gurunathan lovingly made them in the Industrial workshop.

The Main Pantai was also held at other beaches like pantai Mengabang Telipot or maybe pantai Tok Jembal. No cases of khalwat were reported.

If you remember Main Pantai at any of the beaches mentioned (or inadvertently not mentioned), do share the memories here.

Labels: main pantai

CAUGHT WET

News item from today's STAR:

10 couples caught naked daily on Terengganu beaches

KUALA TERENGGANU: As many as 10 couples are caught daily by anti-vice volunteers along the Tok Jembal and Teluk Ketapang beaches, which are increasingly becoming favourite haunts for sexual trysts.

Many of them are said to be students from institutes of higher learning.

A volunteer, who requested anonymity, said most of the couples were caught “doing it” behind coconut trees, rocks, inside cars and even openly on the beaches.

“For non-Muslim couples, we could only advise them on the sensitivity of their action to the locals but Muslims caught will be produced before the Syariah Court,” he said.

He said anti-vice officers would go to places identified as “hot spots” to catch the culprits in the act.

“We listen for sounds of heavy breathing and kissing.

“We then move in and aim our torchlights on the couples. In most cases, they are caught naked.”

The officer said the procedure was to wait awhile before approaching the couples so as to get evidence for prosecution purposes.

“I have daughters and I feel sorry for the parents of these couples,” he said, adding that the youngsters had betrayed the trust of their folk who hoped their children would excel in their education.

The 48-year-old volunteer, who claimed to have caught 1,200 couples on the beaches since signing up as a volunteer in 2004, said he had had enough.

“I cannot take it any longer and am thinking of giving up this work. I have decided that enough is enough after six years as a volunteer,” he said.

Terengganu state executive councillor Rozi Mamat said he had received reports that “dozens of young couples” had been spotted in compromising positions at both the beaches.

“I have received numerous complaints from nearby villagers about immoral behaviour,” he said.

Rozi, newly-appointed as the state Youth and Sports committee chairman, said: “These activities could lead to moral decay among our youths if we keep mum on the matter.”

To address the situation, Rozi plans to suggest to the state government to light up both beaches and intensify patrols at “hot” areas.

This surely would give Terengganu Darul Iman a severe knocking. with the "Darul Iman" part severely dented if not totally caved in like the roof of the stadium.

Couples getting caught in flagrante is not uncommon in Malaysia. In KL years ago, the famous and feared "catcher" was Ustaz Dahlan while his contemporary in Kuala Terengganu was Ustaz Ngoh. What shocked me is the number. 10 in a day? I wonder if the Malaysian Book of Records would record this.

(Sigh). It was not that long when a boy and girl just holding hands would get disapproving glare (cerlong) from all and sundry with a few greheng (meaningful cough) from the older folks.

I wonder if the ICT (ikang celup tepong) stalls along the beach had anything to do with this phenomenon. The udang is an aphrodisiac and could give some people unbearable itches. It could also be the fumes from the planes landing or taking off at the airport just behind the beach. That could induce temporary insanity.

Labels: Darul Iman, khalwat