THE fishing community and residents have shown acceptance for the Silicon Island project in Penang, as indicated in recent surveys.
The findings show that the acceptance was driven by benefits delivered under the Social Impact Management Plan (SIMP) and the Penang South Island Ecology Offset Masterplan (PEOM), reported Buletin Mutiara.
Penang government’s efforts to safeguard the fishermen’s welfare while providing long-term socio-economic benefits are another encouraging factor for the positive feedback.
Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Dr Mohamad Abdul Hamid, who also chairs the Fishermen’s Task Force Committee, said recent surveys conducted by the Fishermen’s One-Stop Service Centre (PPSN) showed that the majority of 180 respondents interviewed to date were in favour of the project.
“This is in line with the Social Impact Assessment (SIA), which found acceptance in the southern region rising from 51.1% in 2019 to 79.1% in 2022.
“In the 2022 SIA, 74.8% of 314 fishermen surveyed expressed support, while among 450 residents interviewed, 82.3% agreed and had confidence in the project’s benefits,” he said at the SIMP benefit handover ceremony in Kampung Binjai at Sungai Bayan Lepas.
Mohamad said this showed that public confidence could be strengthened if a development was carried out responsibly, transparently and with the people in mind.
“Their support is no longer based on promises, but on the real experience of receiving benefits and seeing conservation efforts progress in tandem with development,” he added.
Penang Infrastructure Corporation chief executive officer Datuk Seri Farizan Darus said SIMP and PEOM initiatives were designed to protect fishermen’s welfare and the marine ecosystem, as well as to deliver long-term benefits through education and skills development.
“Our hope is to nurture a new generation that is knowledgeable, competitive and capable of shaping a brighter future for the fishing community.
“With fishermen now placing greater emphasis on their children’s education and with the support of the Education Department, these efforts will ensure that benefits of the Silicon Island development are shared with residents and the wider community,” he added.
Among the four students honoured at the benefit handover ceremony was diploma graduate Annur Syifa Mohamad Khairi, who completed her diploma in Business Studies at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Shah Alam.
She received RM500 under the Academic Excellence Award and another RM500 under the Higher Education Entry Award for her admission into UiTM Merbok to pursue a Bachelor of Business (Operations Management).
Other recipients were Nur Syafiqah Mohamad Daud, a final-year Diploma in Accountancy student at Politeknik Muadzam Shah (Pahang), Nur Aida Abdul Malik, a final-year Diploma in Civil Engineering student at Politeknik Kota Bharu (Kelantan) and Teoh Ping Ying, a final-year Diploma in Business student at INTI College.
Each received RM500 under the Academic Excellence Award.
As part of the programme, 22 fishermen received boats and engines under SIMP, bringing the total number of recipients to 121.
Competency certificates were also awarded to 13 out of 23 fishermen from the fourth batch of the seafarers’ course, all of whom passed the examinations set by the Marine Department.
Since 2022, 48 fishermen have been certified, while others have begun working full-time as seafarers.
In addition, 12 fishermen sheds were handed over to eligible recipients, providing safer and more organised facilities for their activities.
Among those present at the ceremony were southwest district officer Datuk Rosli Halim, Penang Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority director Raymond Rosidih, Silicon Island Development Sdn Bhd (SIDSB) strategic communications and stakeholder management director Azmi Mohamad and Southern Penang Fishermen Association (PNKPPS) president Badrul Hisham Hasim.
