The people of Permatang Damar Laut in George Town, Penang, Malaysia, especially the fishing community have been living in fear as land reclamation in the area is likely to go through, following presentation of the initial environmental impact assessment (EIA) report last Saturday.
According to Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM), 98% of full-time fisherman are against the project while locals are still confused, contradicting the research done by the state government and its appointed consultants.
SAM’s researcher S Mageswari said the figure of 46% of fishermen agreeing to the reclamation was untrue as those interviewed were not full-time fishermen.
It is unthinkable how the generations-old fishing community would support reclamation which will clearly destroy the sea and Mother Nature.
From our research, those interviewed are part-timers whose fishing activity was merely a hobby, she told Bernama here today.
She said the slogan, Cleaner, Greener Penang was not applicable any more by the state as it was willing to sacrifice an enormous marine lung for economic growth.
Many do not understand that once the area is gone, it will be gone forever.
The traditional fishermen disappear, so will our fish. There is no such thing as the fish will swim away because they cannot breed. When their homes are destroyed entirely, how can they survive?
Mageswari also highlighted that the fishermen had been living in the area for generations and were considered the living heritage of the original Penang.
The fishermen’s village should be gazetted as a heritage area and SAM is willing to lend manpower and expertise to get it done.
During last Saturday’s hearing session, state EIA consultant Prof Dr Sharifah Mastura Syed Abdullah said based on initial studies, corals in Pulau Rimau, fishing, marine life and locations where turtles landed would have to be sacrificed for the land reclamation.
SAM president S M Mohamed Idris has slammed the state government for only thinking of revenue to fund the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) by reclaiming three islands measuring 1,821ha in Permatang Damar Laut.
The reclamation project is currently awaiting the detailed environmental impact assessment from the Department of Environment. This is expected to be completed next month and will be displayed for public viewing.
The reclamation of the three islands is being done to fund the RM27 billion PTMP across the state.
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