Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun. -filepic
SEREMBAN: The Melaka government must ensure that fishermen living on the Negri Sembilan side of its border are compensated once work starts on the RM15bil Kuala Linggi International Port (KLIP), says Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun.
The Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar said the fishermen must be paid compensation as their livelihood will be affected due to the proposed project, which will include the reclamation of a 205.9ha area.
"We will not have any objection to the project as long as the fishermen living on our side of the border are compensated.
"Since it is a big project, we hope all matters regarding the environment, including obtaining the Environment Impact Assessment, are strictly adhered to," he told reporters after chairing the state exco meeting on Wednesday (March 10).
Aminuddin expressed hope that the project developer will also ensure the preservation of the Kuala Sg Linggi area, which is also a crocodile habitat and a turtle landing site.
He said the Negri Sembilan government did not raise any objection when the proposed project was discussed at the National Physical Planning Council meeting.
"So, we hope that the Melaka government will be sensitive to our requirements," he said.
Prior to this, Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali said that the state
government had allocated RM5.4mil to be paid as compensation to the 185 fishermen living in the state’s Kuala Linggi constituency.
The proposed KLIP project, which will be an expansion of the existing Kuala Linggi port, will be undertaken by TAG Marine Sdn Bhd with foreign investors.
It will function as an industrial port and serve as a hub with bunkering activity as well as a port of refuge for trading vessels sailing through the Straits of Malacca.
