PUTRAJAYA, Feb 12 — The government is committed to protecting the people living along the coast, as well as the coastal environment, which is demonstrated through the allocation of RM624.5 million under the 11th Malaysia Plan to manage the country’s coastline, said Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

He said the allocation was for projects involving beach nourishment and construction of breakwaters, groynes and revetment.

"This project aimed to benefit 45.38km stretch of coastline, 250,000 people living along the coastline and also to prevent losses of public property up to the amount of RM75 million,” he said in his speech at International Symposium on Coastal Erosion and Environment 2018 here today.

Some 28 papers would be presented over this two-day symposium attended by 250 participants, starting today.

Wan Junaidi said Malaysia was continuously seeking innovative ways to protect its coastline from erosion.

"As such, we welcome the exchange of ideas, new technologies and international best practices of coastal erosion protection,” he said.

"Addressing coastal erosion is a public policy concern because coastline retreat will inevitably result in economic losses of varying magnitudes,” he added. — Bernama