---

Teluk Rubiah - A lost resort

---

The Teluk Rubiah Beach & Golf Resort or Teluk Rubiah as it was known, has closed its doors. The valley is sold to Vale, a Brazilian iron factory. From October 2010 on, the valley will be permanently closed to public, the golf course will be transformed in an iron factory.

The take over must have been prepared for some years as there is a lot of money involved (I heard RM44 million). And if it is not enough... a few kilometers at sea a new platform will be build for the huge cargo ships to dock.

But lets face it... until 1984 this was Malay Reserved land (!!) and therefore untouchable. But even before that, in 1969, the Sultan wanted to build a road from Teluk Rubiah to Teluk Batik (which was Malay Reserved land at the time). He started the project but it was abandoned when the federal government refused to finance it.

In other words, even Malay Reserved Land is NOT untouchable.

In 1984 under pressure of the Sultan of Perak, the status of this land was changed from Malay Reserved Land to Tourist area. In 2010, effectively Teluk Rubiah Resort and Golf Course closed to make space for heavy industry.

January 29, 2012 ... another good example of the scale of destruction

Consequences for Lumut, Sitiawan, Seri Manjung and Pangkor

What will be the situation for Lumut, Seri Manjung and Pulau Pangkor? Huge ships will come to bring raw iron and take the processed materials away. This will mean a lot more pollution to area and will have an effect on both Teluk Batik and Pangkor beaches.

• Pangkor tourism will be affected.
• Teluk Batik beach will be polluted.
• Pangkor fishermen will find that their catch will be more polluted and have difficulties with finding the fishing waters.
• Marina Island project is doomed, who wants to buy a condo or apartment close to such a factory in polluted waters?
• Garbage and waste, already dropped by ships will increase and pollute the beaches all around including Pangkor and Teluk Batik (it is already a problem).

Regardless what the factory will do to try to reduce the effects of environment damage, there WILL be damage done. It's already begun.

The golf course in better days

Teluk Rubiah has its own beach which will be lost for tourists too. One can only wonder why such a factory has to be build right next to a tourist destination as Pangkor, Teluk Batik and the new build Marina Island.

Golf at Teluk Rubiah ... it's history ....

It used to be like above, it is now like below. The hills, according to the engineer Dean, we spoke in 2010, would be totally untouched. On January 18, I saw that 2 massive construction works are undergoing including blasting away the hills.

Teluk Rubiah 2012

The info we got in 2010 was that the 29 traditional styled chalets would not be destroyed but my visit on the 18th January 2012 shows they're all gone.

Teluk Rubiah is sold for the sake of "progress". And the reason for the sale? Teluk Rubiah Beach and Golf Resort didn't make enough money. Actually, the resort made enough money according to the manager, but it was the golf course that cost more then it brought in. We talk about a lack of proper management and promotion. After all, the last years there was little maintenance done on the resort.

We used to have team building activities at Teluk Rubiah,
here with the Japanese School from Kuala Lumpur

With the lack of decent promotion there were not enough investments to maintain the quality of the resort and went in decay. Am I exaggerating? For each chalet the last few years was only ONE set of sheets and towels available!!!

Teluk Rubiah is no more, the valley died in late 2011. There is no hope the factory plans will be cancelled as there is way too much money involved (I heard a number of RM 44M).

A photo I made in 2003 (I think) when the resort was still in excellent condition

Am I a cynic to call this "progress"? Wasn't it possible to give this area which is so close to both Teluk Batik and Pulau Pangkor a more touristy destination? I can only hope the fishing industry at Pangkor will not suffer too much from this project. And as for Teluk Batik, there is already at some days more rubbish drifting on to the beach from what the ships drop in the ocean. It will only get worse and the water quality will get less.

But money talks, as always. I can only wonder who is making the money in this case.

This view will only available for the "lucky 5500" who will work
at the iron ore, except that even these trees are vanished.

Hiking ... no more

There's used to be good hikes in between Teluk Rubiah and Teluk Batik. However, since early 2012, the forest is closed off due to "blasting". The blasting is at the other side of the hills but on January 18, I saw with my own eyes, they're blasting parts of the hills away.

The boards above are to be found at the edge of the Teluk Batik jungle (left, with a solid iron fence) and at the Teluk Batik beach (right). Although the beaches are not the property of Vale Industries, you are no longer allowed to hike there.

This used to be a small path, less than 1 meter wide to the seaside

The same can be said about the jungle trek to the canyon, this is effectively prohibited. I've been doing a lot of hikes in this area, here's one of them from Teluk Batik to Teluk Rubiah

Teluk Rubiah 2012, apparently Vale is drilling two caves

What do you think about Teluk Rubiah and it's future for both Teluk Batik and Pangkor Island?

Back to our Pangkor Hotel page.

Back to the top

 

Back to the homepage

---