GEORGE TOWN: Penang fishermen are sending a strong and clear message to candidates in the 14th General Election (GE14) that they reject reclamation projects, which affect their livelihoods.
The fishing communities of Paramount, Persiaran Gurney, Tanjung Tokong and Tanjung Bungah today outlined 11 demands.
Tanjung Tokong Fishermen Association assistant secretary Syahifah Hawa Zamzuri said they wanted the state’s leaders to look for alternative methods to develop a sustainable economy by, for instance, creating an eco-tourism city, instead of relying on what she called the “reclaim and sell” system.
She added that efforts should be made to replant and protect mangrove areas destroyed under previous reclamation projects.
“A committee which focuses on the beach and sea ecology at the reclamation sites must be established to monitor all environmental issues,” she told a press conference today. “Its members should be from the fishing community and not non-governmental organisations, scientists and academicians.
“If there is a development plan involving the coastal areas off the four beaches, discussions must be held with fishermen first.”
Syahifah also demanded that the environmental impact assessment (EIA) reports of the Seri Tanjung Pinang 1, 2 and Gurney Wharf development projects be reviewed, especially the mitigation plan proposed by the developer.
“Our livelihoods have been affected due to the reclamation. Our catch has declined by over 80 per cent.
“These demands are not only for the campaign period. We want a solution after the mandate is given to the incoming leaders.”
The demands were read by Syahifah, Pangkalan Tanjung Tokong Fishermen chairman Mohd Ishak Abdul Rahman and Tanjung Bungah Fishermen chief Ismail Din before the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates, including Teng Chang Yeow and Jason Loo Jiew Sheng.
In Balik Pulau, fishermen expressed dissatisfaction over the proposed reclamation project in the southern part of Penang island at the Cermin Mata Puteri dan Komuniti Cina programme organised by Barisan Nasional Balik Pulau today.
Han Chin Ooi, 54, said he feared that his livelihood would be adversely affected if the reclamation project for the contruction of three man-made islands were to proceed.
“I hope YB (Yang Berhormat) will help to solve this issue for us once and for all.
“This project not only affects fishing activities here (Gertak Sanggul), but also has a negative impact on 1,500 fishermen,” he said.
Previously, the EIA lead consultant Professor Datuk Dr Sharifah Mastura Syed Abdullah had revealed that reclamation would destroy the turtle landing area and marine habitat.
She said the coral reefs and rivers would also be affected.
During the May 2016 state assembly sitting, the DAP-led state government had put the plan to reclaim the land to fund the Penang Transport Master Plan on hold until the detailed EIA was approved by the Environment Department.
BN candidate for the Balik Pulau parliamentary seat, Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya, said one of the first things that BN would do once it had recaptured Penang was to cancel the proposed reclamation project.
“I hope the fishermen and the people here will support the BN candidates so that the suggestion to scrap the project can materialise,” he said