Standing firm despite appeals

Published by The Star• 02/02/2021

Aerial view of the proposed site of the Penang South Reclamation project as seen from Teluk Tempoyak. — Filepic

PENANG Fishermen Association (Pen Mutiara) is willing to re-negotiate the ex-gratia payments and compensation for fishermen affected by the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project.

However, with the impending approval of the project’s Environment Management Plan (EMP), the state is not convinced of the association’s intention to negotiate, saying explicit calls and appeals by the association to cancel the project showed its true intention.

Deputy Chief Minister l Datuk Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman said the association failed to represent the fishermen, adding that it did not engage them in the Social Impact Management Plan throughout the two-month period given last year.

“The state government is open to discussions with the fishermen including Pen Mutiara but PSR will go ahead according to the approval granted.

“The project will provide a much-needed economic boost for Penang.

“It will prepare the state for the post-pandemic era, ” he said.

Mohd Zaini says if the project gets federal approval, there will be various benefits.

Pen Mutiara chairman Mahadi Md Rodzi said the association was ready for negotiations for a “just” compensation but would wait for the outcome of the Appeals Board hearing in March.

“The association has appealed against the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) which was approved in June 2019.

“It is our right to wait for the Appeals Board decision and it is not true that we did not engage the fishermen as there are 1,600 of them.

“The association heads of each district have been engaging with the fishermen and the feedback from all is that we wait for the Appeals Board hearing, ” he said.

Penang Department of Environment (DOE) director Sharifah Zakiah Syed Sahab said the state had submitted a revised EIA to the headquarters in January and was awaiting a decision.

“There is a change in the reclamation sequence and once the revised EIA gets the green light, the EMP will be submitted to the state DOE for perusal.

“The EMP is merely a management plan and will probably be approved within weeks once the revised EIA is approved, ” she said.

Nazeri says he now realises the project will benefit the future generation.

Meanwhile, several fishermen in Sungai Batu have voiced their support for the project, saying the PSR would at least secure the future of their children and grandchildren.

Among them was fisherman Nazeri Man, 55, who said he had earlier objected to the PSR but now realised that it would benefit the future generation.

“I just hope that the fishermen will not be sidelined and that the state government can increase payment for the skippers and crew members.”

Mohd Zaini Bid, 58, who has been fishing since the age of 18, said he still goes out to sea despite his deteriorating eyesight.

“If the project gets federal approval, there will be various benefits including jobs for many people.

“With the state government’s offer of boats and engines on top of the ex-gratia payments and compensation, we think we are not on the losing end.”

The proposed PSR project seeks 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.

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