Merdeka Beach, Beach in Kuala Muda District, Malaysia

Merdeka Beach is a shoreline along the Kedah coast offering views of Gunung Jerai mountain and the bay of Teluk Nipah. The beach has a lifeguard tower, public restrooms with showers, a playground for children, and parking areas.

A British concrete bunker from 1940 stands at the beach as a defensive structure against potential Japanese invasions during World War II. This fortification remains a remnant from when the region faced wartime threats.

Nearby fishing villages such as Tanjung Dawai, Telok Nipah and Kampung Pulau Sayak draw visitors at weekends, and the shallow flats around Kampung Tepi Sungai, Kota Kuala Muda and Pulau Sayak are worked for kepah clams, siput kemudi and kerang cockles. A ferry crosses the Merbok River to Tanjung Dawai, which is 80 km away by road.

The beach has basic facilities that make visiting comfortable, with parking available nearby for guests. It is best to visit in early morning or evening hours to avoid heat and enjoy the clearest views of the surroundings.

The 760-metre seawall along the shoreline was first built in 1975 and replaced after the beach facilities were upgraded in 1989. A ferry across the Merbok River links the beach with Tanjung Dawai, which lies about 80 kilometres away by road. Wild monkeys from the nearby forest come down to the beach to scavenge from the litter bins.