KUANTAN: Although drowning incidents occurred almost every year at popular beaches here, the authorities have no plan to introduce a no-swimming zone including at the famous Teluk Chempedak.
Civil Defence Department Pahang director Colonel Zainal Yusoff said the enforcement agency had no power to stop the people from swimming in the areas even if the weather or waves were unsuitable for such activities.
"We can only warn them not to enter the water and prepare for any untoward incidents if they did not heed our advice.
"We also have our lifeguards on duty at the popular beaches," he told the New Straits Times here today.
However, he said only Teluk Chempedak had the lifeguards stationed there from 7am to 7pm daily while other beaches were only supervised on weekends.
He admitted that many people would still swim in the water although the red flag was raised, to warn them about the danger posed by the strong waves or poor weather condition.
"I cannot undestand why there are still people swimming in the area although many drowning incidents were reported before," he said adding that five people had drowned at Teluk Chempedak since 2012.
The latest incident happened on Aug 2, when an 18-year-old student from Universiti Tenaga Nasional drowned while swimming with a friend about 2pm.
The incident happened although the two students were earlier advised by the lifeguards not to enter the water since the red flag had already been raised.
Apart from Teluk Chempedak, other beaches that have recorded drowning cases are Pantai Sepat, Balok, Batu Hitam and Cherating.