LUMUT: The Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) is ready to assist the residents and fishermen of Teluk Muroh here who are upset over the reclamation works in the area.
Its chairman Tan Sri Razali Ismail said the commission is ready to help the people here and also to conduct an investigation into the matter.
“We are not against the state government but every project should bring a win-win situation to both sides. We will discuss this matter with the district office before meeting Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir to find a concrete solution.
“If this matter is still unsolved, we will air this issue to the federal level,” he said after meeting the fishermen and residents of Teluk Muroh today.
Razali added that the people here have their rights as the developer and the state government have failed to explain to them on the project which has already started early last year.
“It is crucial for the state government to go to the ground and meet the people before embarking on any projects. We will conduct an investigation and the result will be shared with the 1,000 residents here.
“This is not a fight against the state government but we want the latter to understand that there is a case here. Everything needs to be taken into account - the need for development and the needs of the people here,” he added.
Meanwhile, Gabungan Selamatkan Pantai Warisan Teluk Muroh chairman Zulkifli Hamid said that planning permission was not obtained from the Manjung Municipal Council.
Zulkifli also claimed that the Department of Environment had failed to conduct an Environment Impact Assessment although such projects warranted this.
“The reclamation works should be carried out 500 meters into the sea from the beach area but what we are seeing now is that the reclamation works have gone beyond that.
“We were told that the reclamation works were to relocate 145 squatters in this area but why must they disturb the beach? There are more areas inland.
“We have a plot of land to offer to the state government but they refused to hear our suggestion,” he said, adding that until today, no state government representatives have come forward to explain the project and address the issue.
Fisherman Mohd Izhar Mohd Thalah said the reclamation works have definitely brought a negative impact towards the marine life and to the livelihoods of the 117 fishermen living here.
“I could earn about RM200 daily from fishing around the coastal area around Teluk Muroh. Fish, crab and seashells now are diminishing. I can only get between RM10 and RM15 daily now,” he added.
The RM35million project which involves three phases is expected to be completed next year. The phases are to deepen the Teluk Muroh estuary area, to build a new jetty and to develop a new housing for the fishermen which equipped with facilities such as wet market, food court and recreation area.