OWNERSHIP AND ACCESS ON BEACH: A CASE STUDY ON AVANI SEPANG GOLD COAST, SELANGOR, MALAYSIA

Abstract

Private beach is a global practice in enhancing tourism industry activity but relatively new concept in Malaysia. While tourism is under responsibility of the federal government, utilization and use of land belong to state authority’s power and control pursuant to Federal Constitution 1957. This including land consist of beach pursuant to National Land Code 1965. However, Malaysia is yet to have specific statutory governance on beach or coastal. This paper focuses on State of Selangor government practice in land administration regarding practice of private ownership existence on beach. It will discuss on the government’s reason, present administration and management for the practice and uptake on public access to private owned beach. A qualitative methodology has been adopted by using case study strategy on AVANI Sepang Gold Coast (SGC), Bagan Lalang, Sepang, Selangor. Data has gathered through document analysis and semi-structured interviews on purposive key informants including local authority and state agency representatives. It was found that the practice of ‘private beach’ in Selangor exist through state land alienation and transfer process to ‘joint venture’ entity which include state agency for ‘eco-tourism’ redevelopment in Bagan Lalang’s coastal area which comprises of soil land, beach land and water. This practice was found in line with State of Selangor government guideline on ‘Pekeliling Pengarah Tanah Dan Galian Selangor Bilangan 14/2010: Panduan Pemberimilikan Tanah Dasar Laut Bagi Tujuan Pembangunan Di Atas Dasar Air Di Negeri Selangor.’ Further findings were explained in SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, and Threat) analysis. To conclude, key informants agree this complex issue requires intense caution when considering the implications, models, and administrative processes associated for beach redevelopment and sustainable.