23 Jun Response to Agriculture and Food Industries II Deputy Minister YB Dato Haji Che Abdullah Mat Nawi on the Penang South Islands (PSI)
Press Release
23 June 2021
Response to Agriculture and Food Industries II Deputy Minister YB Dato Haji Che Abdullah Mat Nawi on the Penang South Islands (PSI)
Penang Infrastructure Corporation (PIC) would like to respond to YB Dato Haji Che Abdullah’s statement on Wednesday (16 June) regarding PSI and fisheries matters in relation to the project’s implementation.
We would like to categorically address and clarify a number of remarks that were made by the deputy minister based on data from the Department of Fisheries (DoF), data collected for the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report, and the Fisheries Impact Assessment (FIA) report.
| Issues raised by YB Dato Haji Che Abdullah | Clarification based on data from DoF, and the EIA and FIA reports | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PSI will affect 4,211 Zone A fishermen in Penang | The initial number of fishermen provided by DoF on 26 March 2021 was 858. Then later, on 13 April 2021, DoF changed the number and gave a new list of fishermen numbering at 955. Either number is much lesser than 4,211.
Based on the EIA report, the impacted fishermen will be in-shore or coastal fishermen from the Permatang Tepi Laut, Sungai Batu, Teluk Kumbar, Gertak Sanggul (Tier 1, nearer to PSI), Seri Jerjak, Teluk Tempoyak, Batu Maung, Pulau Betong and Kuala Sungai Burung (Tier 2, further from PSI) fishermen units. The list of 955 fishermen provided by DoF is the total number of fishermen from Tier 1 and 2 areas, much lesser than 4,211. |
| 2 | PSI threatens 87 fish species | According to the EIA and FIA, all species found around the PSI site, including the species mentioned are commonly found in Malaysian coastal waters. The PSI area is not a breeding ground for bawal putih (white pomfret) bawal tambak (Chinese pomfret), and prawns.
The pomfret is a pelagic fish that normally lives and spawns in deeper waters. For prawns, their nursery grounds are in the estuary and mangrove swamps. |
| 3 | Fish landing from PSI area fishermen units (Batu Maung, Teluk Tempoyak, Gertak Sanggul, Sungai Batu, Teluk Kumbar and Permatang Damar Laut) recorded 13,418.11 tonnes a year or 24.5% of Penang’s total fish landing | Based on DOF information, the Batu Maung unit’s Zone B and C trawler boats contributed more than 90% of the 13,418.11 tonnes. The fishing ground for coastal fishermen is only in Zone A, 8 NM (14.8 km) from the coastline. (See Attachment A)
Zone B and C fishermen have larger boats that operate far from the coast in deeper parts of the sea. Zone B fishermen go as far as 15 nautical miles (NM) while Zone C fishermen goes beyond even that, so their daily haul is higher than the average coastal fishermen who operate in Zone A around 8 NM from shore.
Coastal fishermen (work in Zone A) from the other units contributed less than 10% (1,317 tonnes) to the fish landing of 13,418.11 tonnes. 1,317 tonnes is 1.5% of Penang’s fish production of 83,881 tonnes(marine capture fish and aquaculture). This is less than 0.1 % of national fish production of 1,844,327 tonnes (1,452,862 tonnes of marine capture fish and 391,465 tonnes from aquaculture). |
| 4 | Fishermen will lose their livelihoods | Fishermen can still go to sea and fish during and after the reclamation. Improving the livelihood of fishermen is also top priority in PSI. The Social Impact Management Plan (SIMP) provides financial aid in the form of ex gratia to the fishermen, new boat and engine, new floating jetties, a multipurpose commercial fishery building, new jobs and business opportunities, re-skilling, and free tuition and scholarship for fishermen’s children. The State Government’s allocation for the SIMP is estimated at RM100 million, the only project in Malaysia to date with such a huge sum set aside for the local fishermen community’s improvement.
The PSI also has a range of fisheries enhancement initiatives that include the deployment of artificial reefs, fishery aggregating devices, release of fish and prawn fries, mangrove planting, and marine research funds. This will rejuvenate the marine ecosystem and enhance fisheries in the surrounding area for fishermen. Penang State Government insists to help fishermen who want to continue fishing with these various assistances provided in the SIMP and fisheries enhancement programmes. |
| 5 | Noise impact study & prawn migration studies | The study on noise pollution impact caused by the project can only be undertaken when reclamation works are ongoing. The consultant has taken the baseline noise and will compare it with noise generated during the reclamation and dredging works.
The State Government is in the process of appointing a suitable consultant to carry out the prawn migration study. The study involves long observation time, and can be carried out concurrently with the project implementation. |
| 6 | Noise impact study & prawn migration studies | The study on noise pollution impact caused by the project can only be undertaken when reclamation works are ongoing. The consultant has taken the baseline noise and will compare it with noise generated during the reclamation and dredging works.
The State Government is in the process of appointing a suitable consultant to carry out the prawn migration study. The study involves long observation time, and can be carried out concurrently with the project implementation. |
| 7 | Loss of mudflats | The affected intertidal zone (mudflat) is only 4% of entire intertidal zone within Penang. There are still plenty of intertidal areas along the west and east coast of Penang Island and Seberang Perai (See Attachment B). It should also be noted that mudflats near PSR are not breeding grounds for both prawn and pomfret, as explained earlier. |
| 8 | Partial loss of coral reefs in Pulau Rimau | Based on the EIA report, the coral cover in Pulau Rimau is less than 5% and categorised as “poor”, having less conservation value if compared to the coral cover in Pulau Kendi (<30%), which is in “fair health”. |
| 9 | Loss of turtle landing sites | The southern coast of Penang Island is not a popular turtle landing site compared to the northern coasts. From 2001 to 2014, there were 721 turtle landings at the northern coasts of Penang Island but only 9 at the southern coasts.
The beaches near PSI at Gertak Sanggul, Pantai Belanda, Pantai Medan, Teluk Kumbar and Telok Tempoyak recorded only 9 turtle landing in 14 years, compare to 464 and 208 landings at Pantai Keracut and Telok Kampi respectively in the northern coast. |
| 10 | Loss of food source for marine mammals like dolphins | Dolphins are known to feed on fish, which are mostly found in deeper waters and not shallow waters like the PSI area. |
We would like to reiterate that PSI is a long-term project that will benefit Penang as a whole with its inclusive approach adopted right from the planning stage. It is not an undertaking that seeks to benefit one group of people, or to marginalise a certain group of people. It is a project with something for everyone and in this case, we have put fishermen first. They top the list of project beneficiaries before others as the PSI’s SIMP has been designed especially for them.
Penang is an industrial state with an economy built on the manufacturing and services sectors. The majority of Penangites are working in either the manufacturing or service sectors. Therefore, we need to continue to ensure Penang maintains its competitive edge and attractiveness to investors so the state’s economy can grow and safeguard our future for decades to come. We hope the deputy minister and the public will not be misled by inaccurate information on the project. PSI is crucial for our economy and future.
Penang Infrastructure Corporation
23 June 2021
Attachment A: Marine Capture Fisheries Contributed by Coastal Fishermen near PSI (Zone A) Is Less Than 10% To The Entire Southern Sea of Penang Island
Attachment B: Intertidal Area (Mudflat) Is Only 4% of the Intertidal Area of the Whole of Penang
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