Group presents memo to minister over Penang land reclamation project

Khoo Salma Nasution. -filepic

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Rejects Reclamation coalition (Penang Tolak Tambak) presented a memo from the Penang Fishermen's Association on the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project to Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin.

In the memo, the fishermen, who is against the PSR, said the approval for the project clearly goes against Malaysia and Penang's climate pledges (SDG13) and aspirations of UNDP's Sustainable Development Goals, especially on climate action and conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

"Lack of transparency has been a defining feature of the massive PSR project, which will create three artificial islands of 1,821ha which will affect the lives of 5,000 Penang fishermen and 2,300 Perak fishermen, something acknowledged by the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister," said the association in the memo, which was handed over by Penang Tolak Tambak member Khoo Salma Nasution to Zuraida at the 7th Asia Pacific Urban Forum at the Setia SPICE Convention Centre in Bayan Lepas on Thursday (Oct 17).

The association said the project would cause many fishermen to become unemployed, while the planned resort-like real estate on the reclaimed artificial islands would not benefit locals who could not afford to live there.

"We had repeatedly voiced out objections since 2015, with demonstration by 1,500 fishermen and a protest at sea in 2017 with 450 fishing boats, which was of no avail, as the Penang government continues to deny the fishermen's rights to livelihood in favour of the project.

"Two petitions related to this protest have been signed by 240,000 supporters, a number which clearly demonstrates the groundswell of support for these fishermen and the concern that the PSR will likely lead to a total destruction of the coastal and marine ecosystems, including the richest fisheries in Penang-northern Perak waters," it said.