Collateral Damage Of Penang Reclamation Project Ngos To Reveal All

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This Friday, the Penang Tolak Tambak coalition would brief the media on the "Opacity, Overreach and Collateral Damage" of the state's megaprojects - Penang South Reclamation (PSR) and the RM46 billion transport master plan (PTMP)
Four NGOs - Penang Forum, Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4), Penang Fishermen Association and Peka Malaysia - will speak at the briefing slated for Sept 27, in Shah Alam
A spokesperson for the coalition, Khoo Salma Nasution, said PTMP is an "extremely complex" megaproject with many components, including the Light Railway Track (LRT), Pan-Island Link (PIL) highway and PSR
"The PSR proposes to reclaim three islands totalling 4,500 acres, larger than Forest City and will entail large-scale sand-mining in Perak waters," Khoo Salma said in a statement

"Apart from limited public viewing of the 20-volume proposal, most information could only be gleaned from the PTMP website, the chief minister’s announcements, property sector updates and press reports
"Due to this lack of information and primary data, the public could only speculate about the underlying rationale and viability of the project," she said
Describing the project as "collateral damage", Khoo Salma said the socio-environmental costs of building large-scale infrastructure involves existing neighbourhoods, public parks, landslip-prone forested hills, as well as the massive coastal reclamation and sand-mining
"Despite public objections, especially to the PIL and the PSR, the environmental impact assessments were approved," she lamented
On Nov 4, the group will launch a solidarity day for fisherfolks affected by the mega-projects
About 7,000 fisherfolks have decided to boycott the seas and hang up their nets for a "no fishing day" on Nov 4
Penang Fishermen Association chairperson Nazri Ahmad said the move is to create awareness among the people that the proposed Penang South Reclamation project would destroy seafood resources
"This move will affect all seafood industries, fisherfolks and fish breeders and the loss would amount to about RM21 million," Nazri told Malaysiakini
Over 200 fishermen from Penang and Perak, who will be the most affected by the destruction of the marine ecosystem and the fishing industry, had travelled to Parliament on July 11 to take part in a historic protest
They urged Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to cancel the project
Penang executive councillor in-charged of the fishermen taskforce Dr Afif Bahardin said the state will soon finalise a compensation package for fisherfolks affected by the projects
The package will be presented to the state exco council and the fisherfolks for discussion
"Several components included in the package include upgrading their skills, housing and new jetties for fisherfolks," Afif said
To this, Nazri said his peers need to know in detail the content of the package before deciding to accept it
"We have not met with state government officials yet," he added. - Mkini

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