Some NGOs have claimed that the coastal erosion along Tanjung Bungah and Batu Ferringhi is linked to the Andaman Island project. (Citizen Awareness Chant group pic)GEORGE TOWN : The coastal erosion along Tanjung Bungah and Batu Ferringhi in Penang was caused by high tides, not reclamation activities, says state executive councillor Zairil Khir Johari. “Together with strong winds, the wave speed for this year was so strong that it washed away the sandbags that were installed (along the coastlines) as erosion mitigation measures. “If the reclamation activity is what caused the erosion, the effects would have been seen 10 years ago,” he added. He said mitigation works were now underway along Batu Ferringhi using allocations from the 5th Rolling Plan of the 12th Malaysia Plan.