Hideaway beach

 2012-06-26 18:04

  • Bagan Nakhoda Omar is a tourist destination believed to have been founded by a Muslim. Photo courtesy: Sin Chew Daily

  • To prevent loss of soil along the beach, the government has built an embankment to fend off wave erosion. Photo courtesy: Sin Chew Daily

  • The signage at the entrance of Bagan Nakhoda Omar. Photo courtesy: Sin Chew Daily

  • Two speed boats ferrying passengers during high tide are seen moored on the seaside. Photo courtesy: Sin Chew Daily

  • The unique beach has become a tourist haven complete with full public amenities and a bustling hawker centre. Photo courtesy: Sin Chew Daily

  • Breathtaking scenery along the beach. Photo courtesy: Sin Chew Daily

Translated by WINNIE CHOOI
Sin Chew Daily

SABAK BERNAM -- Bagan Nakhoda Omar is a secluded beach in Sabak Bernam district.

According to older residents, BNO was founded by a Muslim man and the name simply means Captain Omar's fishing port in Malay.

Villagers believed the hamlet was so named to commemorate Captain Omar, the village's founder.

Erosion

70-year-old village chief Wang Ji Sheng told Sin Chew Daily, even though BNO is a predominantly Chinese fishing village, it was founded by a Muslim.

The seaside was the place where the village started, with a Muslim cemetery first established on the right side of the beach, followed by a Chinese cemetery on the left years later.

Wang recalled that there were about 30 Chinese tombstones when he was about ten years old. He and his family would offer prayers at the cemetery during Cheng Meng festival and there was only one road leading to the graveyard.

However, owing to constant wave erosion, both the cemeteries have been destroyed today.

The most unforgettable moments for local residents was when the police conducted body searches along the beach but to no avail some ten years back.

A unique beach with a good combination of sun, sand and sea, BNO is today a perfect destination for tourists. A hawker centre along the beach has managed to attract large crowds of people thronging to the seaside during public holidays and weekends.

"According to old residents, no one seems to know who was the first person to have set foot on this harbour, but he was most likely a Malay because of the presence of early Muslim cemetery," explained Wang.

"I have asked many people but none of them knows about the establishment of this village."

There are currently about 700 residents in the village, with almost 100 Chinese households and only ten Malay houses.

Bagan Nakhoda Omar can be reached via the KL-Kuala Selangor Highway (Latar), or from Klang via Jalan Kapar passing through Sungai Buloh, Kuala Selangor, Pasir Penampang, Bagan Pasir, Sungai Kajang, Bagan Tenggorak, Sekinchan, Sungai Burung and Sungai Pulai.

GPS coordinates: 3.77359, 100.89313.