Nation

'PSR to have minimal impact on fishery sector; is timely economic boost'

GEORGE TOWN: The controversial Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project will have minimal impact on the fishery sector here, as the project reserves a waterway or channel for fishermen to continue their activities.

Penang Infrastructure Corporation (PIC) Sdn Bhd, which is involved in planning and developing the PSR area, including topside development, said the popular fishing areas are beyond the site earmarked for the PSR.

"As such, it is factually wrong to say that the reclamation will stop fishery activities," it said in a response made available to the New Straits Times here today.

It was reported on Friday that despite widespread protests against the project, the Penang government is adamant in pushing ahead with reclamation works for the PSR project.

PIC chief executive officer Datuk Seri Farizan Darus had said that reclamation is expected to begin late March or early April, as soon as they receive approval for the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) by the Department of Environment (DoE).

The EMP, which is to ensure that contractors appointed for the project fulfil all the EIA approval conditions during reclamation works, was submitted to the DoE last month.

Following the announcement, the Penang Fishermen's Association (Pen Mutiara) questioned the state government's motive in starting reclamation works for the PSR, at a time when numerous welfare issues involving fisher folk have yet to be resolved.

Its chairman Mahadi Md Rodzi had said that the project is currently facing a legal obstacle, with fishermen in the midst of challenging the approval of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report in July 2019.

He had also said that the state government's announcement of the said project was "a desperate move" to influence and convince certain fishermen to accept the ex-gratia offered. This when the majority of fishermen in the affected areas rejected the compensation offered, which they deemed a pittance compared to the mega project's value, and would impact their livelihood in the long run.

Mahadi had also expressed hope that no outsiders would deal with the fishermen community with regard to this issue, and instead refer directly to the association to avoid any confusion and ensure the welfare of all fishermen is looked after.

In its response today, PIC said the Social Impact Management Plan (SIMP), which involves ex-gratia payment and programmes to provide long-term benefit to the fisher folk, including empowerment programmes and housing schemes, had been made known previously, when it met with Pen Mutiara on Oct 23, last year.

During the meeting, SIMP had requested Pen Mutiara to engage the fishermen and provide feedback to them should there be any amendment required.

PIC said, upon learning that Pen Mutiara had not engaged, informed, and collected feedback from the fishermen after more than two months, they had another meeting with them on Dec 28 to get the latest update.

During that meeting, Pen Mutiara remarked that they rejected any further discussion on the SIMP.

"In order to protect the welfare of the fishermen, whom Pen Mutiara has failed to engage and represent, we had decided to reach out to the fishermen directly.

"We have received feedback from the two fishermen engagement centres that many fishermen are agreeable with the SIMP packages.

"The SIMP has also included the provision of new boats and engines to enable fishermen to continue with their trade.

"On top of that, a range of plans related to fishery is also included in the SIMP, for instance, new jetties and better facilities to be built for the fishermen," it said, adding that PSR does not stop fishery activities, as was falsely stated by Pen Mutiara and the Penang Forum.

The PSR, according to PIC, is a sustainable development project that is aligned with the expert reports and climate adaptation recommendations produced by the world's top authority on climate change, the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) 'Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in A Changing Climate' and 'Special Report on Climate Change and Land'.

"As PSR has received the conditional approval for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), it is legal for the project to proceed as long as all the stated requirements are met.

"Therefore, the proceeding of PSR is legal and legitimate.

"We will continue to reach out directly to the fishermen, without going through a middleman, to ensure the fishermen themselves receive the benefits from the PSR project," it stressed.

PIC also reiterated that the implementation of the PSR is especially timely given the economic malaise caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

"New job opportunities will be created from the project, with a boost of domestic direct investment pouring into the state.

"These economic stimuluses will be able to bring sustenance to struggling households to pull through the current crisis.

"Furthermore, the reclamation of Island A, for the purpose of developing Industry 4.0, will attract more investment into Penang, create more high-value jobs, and uplift the local community and contribute to the economic growth of the state and country," it said.

The PSR project will see the creation of three man-made islands, measuring 1,800ha.

The PSR project, off the southern coast of the island, had obtained EIA approval from the DoE, which came with 72 conditions.

Various quarters, including environmental-based non-governmental organisations and the fishing community, had vigorously opposed the project and raised concerns on its adverse socio-economic and environmental impacts.

Reclamation works are expected to begin for Island A first, with about 10ha reclaimed every month.

Most Popular
Related Article
Says Stories