Direct negotiation on the cards

Diterbitkan oleh The Star • 10/02/2021

Ahmad Zakiyuddin (right) showing the list of offers to fishermen affected by the PSR project. With him is Farizan.

THE Penang government will deal directly with the fishermen who are affected by the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project in Teluk Kumbar.

Deputy Chief Minister l Datuk Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman said the state government would discuss with the fishermen on the amount of ex-gratia and compensation offered and how they could benefit from the project.

“We will talk to them directly since the Penang Fishermen Association (Pen Mutiara) said to be representing the community had said it would not give any feedback on the packages offered.

“Since they are not interested in negotiating, we have to adopt a new approach in engaging the local fishermen, ” said Zakiyuddin at a press conference at Komtar on Friday.

It was earlier reported that Pen Mutiara, in a meeting with the Penang government on Dec 28, had said it would not provide feedback on the Social Impact Management Plan (SIMP) pending a hearing by the Department of Environment’s (DoE) appeal board.

The association had appealed against the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) which was approved by the Environment and Water Ministry.

Zakiyuddin said under the tier 1 ex-gratia payouts, skippers and crew members would each receive RM20,000 and RM12,960 respectively, while those under tier 2 would receive RM13,200 and RM5,400 each.

Payments will be done in stages until January next year.

“These are ex-gratia payments, not compensation payments which are still being negotiated.

“Those under tier 1 are fishermen from Permatang Tepi Laut, Sungai Batu, Teluk Kumbar and Gertak Sanggul.

“Those from tier 2 are from Seri Jerjak, Batu Maung, Teluk Tempoyak, Pulau Betong and Kuala Sungai Burung.

“Skippers from tier 1 will also be given boats with engines as to enable them to go deep into the sea once the PSR islands are completed.

“Other than the ex-gratia payments, the SIMP had also proposed building four fishermen jetties – the main one in Permatang Tepi Laut and three others in Sungai Batu, Teluk Kumbar and Gertak Sanggul, ” he said.

Zakiyuddin also said the fishermen community would benefit directly from the proposed works carried out in the project – from the reclamation to the building of jetties and supplying of materials and daily necessities.

“The project is scheduled to begin in early April, with 10ha of land reclaimed every month for Island A (930ha).

“Fishermen can still go out to sea during this period, ” he said.

The PSR is a proposed project to reclaim 1,821ha of the sea to create three islands south of the airport towards the east around Permatang Damar Laut.

The state has proposed to implement the PSR project to raise funds for the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP).

It involves the reclamation and development of three man-made islands namely Island A (930ha), Island B (566ha) and Island C (324ha).

It was earlier reported that the proposed projects of PTMP had run into protests by environmental groups and fishermen over the years.

The environmentalists argued that such a massive development would adversely impact the livelihood of fishermen and the marine ecosystem in the southern part of the island.

On the approval for the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) by the DoE, Penang Infrastructure Corporation Sdn Bhd (PICSB) chief executive officer Datuk Seri Farizan Darus said the state had submitted all the relevant documents in January this year.

“The normal standard operating procedure is for us to get the approval within 90 days from the date of submission. We are confident it will be approved soon.”

PICSB is the special purpose vehicle that will be leading the implementation of the mega projects under the Penang Transport Master Plan.