YAN: A group of nine non-governmental organisations want the Pas-led state government to scrap the proposed RM83 billion Kedah hydrocarbon hub.

Gabungan Mempertahan Pesisir Pantai Yan (Yan Inshore Defence Coalition) expressed its concern over the plan to build an island for the oil refinery and pipeline project.

A spokesman for the group, M.S. Anuar Mahmod, said the proposed hydrocarbon hub would have a negative and hazardous impact on the residents in the area.

"Generally, the petroleum and petrochemical-based industry is linked to issues that would affect the environment as well as the health and security of humans.

"Benzene, hydrogen sulphide and methanol are among several pollutants related to the industry.
"Mismanagement of these substances would result in an increase in cancer rates."

Members of the group, led by Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM), are Jaringan Bertindak Nelayan Pantai Semenanjung Malaysia, Jaringan Bertindak Nelayan Pantai Kedah, Jaringan Bertindak Pantai Semenanjung Malaysia, Perak; Yan Fishermen Action Body, Pantai Merdeka Fishermen Action Body, Tanjung Dawai Fishermen Action Body, Penang Inshore Fishermen Welfare Association(Pifwa) and United Rural Citizens Association of Kedah.

Anuar, who is a coordinator with Sahabat Alam Malaysia, said the construction of the island would affect the income of about 2,000 fishermen living nearby.

Ilias Shafie, a spokesman for Pifwa, said the project would also affect fishermen from Penang who fish in that area.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak had rejected an earlier proposal that would have the refineries built on reclaimed padi fields here.

Instead, he suggested these be set up in Gurun.

However, Azizan agreed with a plan to build the island off Sungai Limau after he was convinced that it would not be detrimental to the livelihood of the farmers and fishermen there.