THE dark stretch of the hanging bridge linking Kuantan tourist beach spots Teluk Tongkang and Teluk Chempedak has exposed visitors to petty criminals.
For more than a year, visitors using the bridge have had lost their belongings, such as smartphones, to thieves, as the lights on the link are not working.
A few of them had even been approached by bogus cops, who extorted money.
Tourist guide Sheikh Muhammad Qaidhir, 26, said he was aware of the risks in bringing across tourists from Teluk Chempedak to Teluk Tongkang at night.
“The lights had been broken the past year,” he said, adding that it put tourists crossing over to Teluk Chempedak in danger.
Muhammad said repairing the lights would deter petty criminals, He also said even if a crime were to take place, witnesses would be able to see the perpetrator’s face and lodge a police report.
He also lamented that the petty crimes deterred tourists from visiting Teluk Tongkang, a scenic spot for camping and picnicking.
“At times, the dark bridge was used by couples to engage in maksiat (sexual trysts).”
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Kuantan Municipal Council (MPK) public relations officer Izad Zainal Muhammad Safian said they would check the lights on the bridge and replace them if necessary.
“The MPK maintenance unit head said repairs (on the lights along the bridge) were conducted in March, but perhaps there was a power trip.”