BUTTERWORTH: The Seberang Perai Fishermen Association has called for a stop to the Bagan Ajam-Telok Ayer Tawar reclamation project, which they claim could have an adverse impact on the livelihood of fishermen and marine species.
Its president Mahadi Md Rodzi said that even though the 650 hectares reclamation project has been shelved, they are concerned that they will face the same fate as fishermen in Tanjung Tokong who saw their area reclaimed several years ago.
"The Bagan Ajam shore is a unique area as it is the habitat for mackerel, crabs and shrimps. Due to reclamation works nearby, the catch has greatly reduced.
"This worries the fishermen and also the public, as this would cause the price of fish sold in the market to increase," he said after a press conference with Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM), here, today.
Later, Mahadi led some 200 association members and non-governmental organisation (NGO) bodies to hand over a memorandum to Teluk Ayer Tawar assemblyman Mustafa Kamal Ahmad.
"This area is popular as a tourist spot. Imagine everything will be destroyed with the reclamation and high-end developments.
"We hope the state government will listen to our appeal," said Mahadi.
Mustafa Kamal told reporters he would hand over the memorandum to the state government in the state executive councillor meeting, and also to PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, for the next course of action.
"What is certain is that we will defend the rights of the people," he added.
The Bagan Ajam-Telok Ayer Tawar reclamation project is the continuation of the Butterworth Outer Ring Road (BORR) project, to connect Butterworth with other roads and newly constructed infrastructures.
It was given to concession company Rayston Consortium (Butterworth) Sdn Bhd (RCSB), but was shelved in 1999.
RCSB is part of the consortium that built BORR, along with Etika Gemilang (Butterworth) Sdn Bhd.