Pulau
Pangkor is an island off the coast of Perak in north-west peninsular Malaysia,
reached by ferry from Lumut (a small coastal town that links to Ipoh, or from
Sitiawan). It has a land area of only 8 square kilometers, and a population of
approximately 25,000 islanders. It is heavily promoted as a low-key tourist
destination by the Malaysian government, but fishing and fish products remain
major industries.
Off
the coast of Perak state, lies a cluster of small islands with unquestionably
some of the best beaches on the western coast of peninsular Malaysia. Among
them, two islands predominate in terms of accessibility and infrastructure -
the largest Pangkor and smaller, privately owned Pangkor Laut- hosting one
luxurious resort. If you are looking for high standard accommodation on the
main island, head up north to Teluk Belanga or Teluk Dalam.
Located
about 90km south west from lpoh and reachable by ferry from Lumut in only
35mins, Pangkor Island is 8 square km big and inhabited by circa 25 thousand
people, mainly fishermen. They live in scattered fishing settlements,
especially on the eastern coast, and their catch consists mainly of cuttlefish
and anchovy. Pangkor is intensively promoted as a budget tourist destination,
however it’s still fishing and dried seafood to be the main industry.
The most beautiful beaches are Nipah
Beach and Coral Beach, both situated in Nipah Bay on the west-northern coast,
popular among foreigners (mainly Europeans and Australians) as well as locals.
With tiny islets nearby (Giam and Mentagor) surrounded by corals, fish and sea
cucumbers, this place is a fully satisfactory snorkeling spot. If you are into
other watersports- they are easily accessible everywhere around the island. For
active and adventurous- there’s an uphill jungle trek across the island (takes
around 4hrs). Pangkor has a lot to offer also to bird watchers- among many
interesting species, amazing hornbills can be easily spotted.
History
Historically,
Pangkor was a refuge for local fishermen, merchants and pirates. In the 17th
century, the Dutch built a fort in an effort to control the Perak tin trade. In
1874, it was the location of a historic treaty between the British government
and a contender for the Perak throne (The Pangkor Treaty), which began the
British colonial domination of the Malay Peninsula.
Pangkor
is famous for its fine beaches and a mix of low budget to 5 star
accommodations. Teluk Nipah and Coral Bay on the north west of the island is
extremely popular with travellers from Europe. The quality of sand in the Pasir
Bogak Beach is far superior to that elsewhere on the island. The sand is golden
brown, quite similar to most leading prime beaches. There are a few resorts in
Teluk Nipah or Nipah Bay.
Since
the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in Indonesia, Thailand and to a lesser extent the
West Coast of Malaysia in December 2004, there have been fewer local tourists
visiting Pangkor.
In
2006, a biotechnology centre, a joint venture of Global Hi-Q Malaysia S/B and
Hi-Q Bio-Tech International (Taiwan) Ltd began operations with initial
investments of RM100million (USD30m). Their operations include fish farming and
aquaculture, and the first harvest is expected in 2009.
Just
next to island of Pangkor, there is a smaller island called Pangkor Laut
Island.
Tourist
attractions
The
main attractions in Pangkor Island are the beaches. Other attractions include:
Pangkor
Town
Fishing
Villages
Fu
Lin Kong Temple
Kali
Amman Temple
Batu
Bersurat and Tiger Rock
Dutch
Fort (Kota Belanda)
The
Tombs
Tortoise
Hill
Beaches
Of
all the Pangkor beaches, Teluk Nipah or Nipah Bay is the most popular with
foreign travelers, although it is still predominantly Malaysians who frequent
this area. This beach is located a few kilometers north Pantai Pasir Bogak.
Unlike other beaches, it has corals, sea cucumber and bird lovers can find the
hornbill (Burung Enggang) on this beach.
Teluk
Nipah has 2 beaches: Nipah Beach and Coral Bay. Nipah Bay has a view of two
small uninhabited islands called Pulau Giam and Pulau Mentagor.
As
of March 2011, the northern end of Nipah Bay was under heavy construction. A
sea-wall was being erected along much of the beach, and a series of concrete
shop houses were going up all along the seafront, obstructing the ocean view
from the road and greatly reducing the amount of beach front available for
recreation.
Giam
Island is mostly interesting for snorkeling. The waters are shallow. There are
lots of corals and fishes to see.