A RECENT online video of a monkey taking a smartphone belonging to a visitor in in Teluk Chempedak has raised concern among visitors and business operators at the popular beach spot in Kuantan.
The 31-second video shows two monkeys curiously examining the phone from the top of a tree branch near a bridge connecting Teluk Chempedak to nearby Teluk Tongkang.
In the video, a crowd of people were seen shouting and a man standing on the bridge railing in an attempt to retrieve the smartphone.
Stall owner Nur Hamidah Ghazali is familiar with the sight of loitering monkeys snatching visitors’ food and other items.
“I have been plying my trade here for over a year. The monkeys are very mischievous.
“Besides stealing belongings, the primates are also often seen rummaging through rubbish bins and scattering the garbage,” said the 32-year-old.
Checks by the NST revealed that the monkeys were active in the evening when it was shady and visitors start flocking to the beach.
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A Kuantan Municipal Council (MPK) spokesman acknowledged that the monkey nuisance had been a long-standing problem at the popular beach spot because of the visitors’ propensity to feed the primates.
“MPK has placed a signboard there warning visitors to exercise caution when near monkeys.
“We hope visitors will abide by the rules stated (on the signboard) such as not feeding (the monkeys), in order to avoid any unwanted incidents.”
He added that if there was a need to catch and relocate the monkeys there, the responsibility would fall under the Pahang Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan).