Don’t lose sight of big picture of Penang reclamation project

Published by The Malaysian Insight• 20/05/2021• 02:22 pm

I REFER to the article “Food security is preserving, not destroying, food producing places” by Ravinder Singh on May 11.

I read with interest as the writer attacked the Penang government’s decision to implement a “grand project to reclaim 4,500 acres of rich seafood producing area in the bay of Teluk Kumbar”.

I agree that food security is crucial, and it is right to invest in our agricultural sector.

I only disagree with the way Ravinder had put it – that Penang should preserve a small fishing area for the sake of food security, and we must cancel the reclamation project off Teluk Kumbar.

We are well aware that when coastal waters are reclaimed, some parts of the marine habitat will be lost. Nobody questions this.

The project’s approved environmental impact assessment acknowledged this and stipulated 72 conditions the project proponent must fulfil when implementing the reclamation.

But we should not be misled into thinking that one reclamation project will harm the environment, kill all the fish, prawns, cockles, crabs and other creatures we consume as seafood in the sea, and there would be no return from that.

Recently, I read an article related to this subject, quoting former Seberang Perai City councillor Joshua Woo, who said Penang had recorded a surplus in food supply and the area where the reclamation will take place only contributed 4% of the state’s whole fishery production. If he is right, will the project lead to food insecurity?

Some people dwell on the bad news and dramatised side of the story, neglecting repeated explanations by the Penang government on the importance of this project and mitigation measures that will be carried out for the sake of the environment and fishermen.

I am not a government or party agent (before anyone accuses me of being one), but let’s be fair and rational.

I am very sure no government or state leaders in their right mind are “hell-bent” on destroying fishing grounds.

Digging up articles on this project from the last two years, I found that the Penang government had made announcements several times about how it would address concerns of the impact of the reclamation project.

The exco in charge of food security, Dr Norlela Ariffin, was quoted by the press in April last year as saying that there would be ecology programmes involving mangroves, artificial reefs and eco-shorelines for Penang South Reclamation marine basins, among others, to address impact on the marine ecology.

She also said under the Social Impact Management Plan, fishermen would be given ex-gratia payments, job opportunities, training, new fishing piers with facilities, and others.

Last February, Deputy Chief Minister I Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman repeated these measures, adding that Tier 1 fishermen will also get boats and engines as well as a navigation channel that will give them 24-hour access to the sea, regardless of the tide. Entrepreneur support schemes will also be provided. Even their schooling children will be offered education schemes.

Just from these announcements, one should be able to understand that the Penang government is not hell-bent on destroying the marine environment. Planting mangroves and putting artificial reefs into the sea will promote marine habitats. Fish is not going to go extinct.

Giving fishermen boats, engines, new fishing piers and a navigation channel means it will still be possible for them to continue their vocation.

If their livelihoods will be lost completely due to the reclamation, surely the Penang government will not waste time and money on boats, engines and what not.

So, there will still be fishermen catching fish in the southern waters for our consumption.

I am amazed with the perks fishermen are being offered. I have no memory of other fishermen in other reclamation projects in Penang enjoying so many benefits.

I am sure they can see the opportunities before them. With the reclamation project, I think it will be likelier to see fishermen finding more job and business opportunities, and making extra income than losing their livelihoods.

But detractors seem to be fighting tooth and nail to make everyone disregard the merits of pursuing this project and the benefits for the fishermen.

They only want us to focus on the environmental impact, fishermen losing their jobs and Penang facing food insecurity, no matter how unlikely it is.

For argument’s sake, it should take more than just leaving a group of fishermen in one fishing area alone to achieve food security. It takes seafood production improvements and moving towards aquaculture to increase seafood availability and safety.

Frankly, Penang is not an agricultural state. The manufacturing and services sectors drive Penang’s economy and create jobs for millions of people.

The Penang government is trying to boost these economic engines by developing a new high-tech industrial park, business centre and tourist attraction on the Penang South Reclamation to ensure the state maintains its edge as a preferred destination for international trade, investment, business and tourism.

Penang needs long-term growth to safeguard the well-being of its residents. This state government-driven development – the Penang South Reclamation – will do this.

We should not lose sight of the big picture due to personal preferences or political affiliations.

I think it is too easy to criticise efforts by people you dislike when you do not share their responsibilities. Will attacking the project and its owner habitually help move Penang forward, young Malaysians with professional qualifications find jobs or generate revenue and taxes for the federal and state governments?

I am not saying the Penang government is always right, but at least it is independently working towards stimulating the state economy to retain and create businesses and jobs for people of all ages across sectors through this massive development.

I don’t remember any other party undertaking reclamation projects as demonised as the Penang government. – May 20, 2021.

* Magima Raj Pragasam reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight.