I recently visited the Jabatan Laut regarding
insurance policy coverage but the subject of designated
anchorages did arise. The position is that there are only two places that are approved, Bass harbour ( kuah town anchorage) and the area between the Harbour park marina and the two artificial islands that were formed when the marina was dug out. Boats must be occupied and the
advice was that un occupied vessels could be removed by the department and
sold ....though so far the only un occupied boats that actually have been
sold @ ones that have dragged or otherwise gone adrift so I don't think the average cruising yachts ( live aboards) have much to worry about. There have been reports of yachts being approached by "Maritim" at Pulau beras basah and informed that they are in a non
anchoring area but not forced to move.
The loss of the Pantai Cenang anchorage was difficult to accept at first but now with all the jet skis, parasailing and tube towing it's not a place you would even want to
anchor near. The same watersports intrusion is in progress at the harbour park anchorage so hopefully the cruising community doesn't lose that one too.
Commercial interests have closed some of the best beaches to everyone other than hotel guests, another casualty of the progress being made in the name of tourism.
I have doubts about the use of a petition to try to alter the trajectory of
events in Langkawi, it's still a good place for cruising yachts and a petition might change things for the worse.