Sunday, July 05, 2009

Sungai Linggi's Crocodile A Star Attraction

24 June 2009
 
Sungai Linggi's Crocodile A Star Attraction

By Shahrullizan Rusli

PORT DICKSON, June 24 (Bernama) -- While villagers fear the man eating crocodiles in the rivers of Sarawak, in Sungai Linggi in Negeri Sembilan the reptiles have been in peaceful coexistence with the locals since time immemorial.

However, those keen to watch the reptiles in Sungai Linggi are requested to observe caution like stated in the notice board at the PD Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd's ticket counter at Pengkalan Kempas.

Most importantly visitors should not tap the water with their hands or wash their feet in the river. This is a strict prohibition that the locals adhere too.

Another notice board put up by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks at the jetty entrance confirms the existence of the reptile in the river.

The notice board states that "You are prohibited from disturbing the crocodiles under the Act 76 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1976. You can be fined between RM2,000 and RM10,000 or jailed between two and 10 years".

SEE THE CROCODILES IN THE SUN

I was invited recently to participate in the Kembara Zoom Malaysia tour programme under the Jejak Perpatih IV series to cruise along Sungai Linggi and make a stopover at the Kampung Sungai Timun jetty.

Visitors can explore the Sungai Linggi, which branches into Sungai Timun, Sungai Rembau and Sungai Pedas, that is rich in fable and history.

The chairman of Kumpulan PD Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd Datuk Yaacob Hussin noted that; "People like to come and watch the crocodile, its nothing like watching them under the sun on the river bank."

The data from the Wildlife Department denotes the existence of 3,000 crocodiles in Sungai Linggi and where there are crocodiles, there are egrets that adds to the attraction.

Nevertheless, Yaacob who gave the assurance that the cruise along Sungai Linggi is safe advised the writer on the prohibitions and precautions.

FIREFLIES

During the day visitors can view the crocodile and the natural surroundings but during the night the star attraction is the fireflies along Sungai Linggi and Sungai Timun.

This insects converge on the Berembang trees along the river bank and provide a beautiful view, like a lighted Christmas tree.

"Aim the torchlight on the water, and you might see two red dots which is actually the crocodile's eyes", he said.

The one hour "adventurous" ride was daunting to me especially when knowing that behind the mangrove trees the crocodiles were watching our boat.

Other than the crocodile, fireflies and the egret, Sungai Linggi has several historical remnants that is worth taking a look.

SUNGAI LINGGI'S HISTORY

Cruising along the river, visitors will notice the rising banks and the area full of rocks. This is the place where the Raja Melawar, the ancestor of the present Negeri Sembilan royalty, meted punishment on those who rebelled against his rule.

According to folklore, there was once a graveyard along the river bank but it disappeared as the banks were eroded by the flowing river.

Visitors will also notice the site of the building used to collect taxes from boats and ships carrying goods to Pengkalan Kempas.

Sungai Linggi was once an important trade route and the testimony to this is the presence of forts and fortifications along the river, especially at Sungai Rembau and Sungai Pedas.

The river has witnessed a number of confrontations between local warriors and the English troops.

At Pengkalan Kempas, there are interesting places like the Pengkalan Kempas Historical Complex and the grave of an ulema from India who arrived in this small town in the early days.

GETTING THERE

Sungai Linggi is accessible through the Pengkalan Kempas jetty or through a 20 minute boat ride from Teluk Kemang in Port Dickson.

Tha boat rides cost RM18 for adults and RM15 for children and online bookings with PD Travel & Tours can be done through www.kumpulanybh.com or at the ticket counter in Pengkalan Kempas Jetty.

Those keen to watch the crocodiles and egrets can opt for the day time cruise while those who want to watch the fireflies can opt for the after dark cruise.

-- BERNAMA