Foreigners joined Pengerang protest, claims Azalina

Pengerang BN member of parliament Azalina Othman lambasted outsiders, whom she said made much out nothing via a protest against a planned oil refinery in her constituency.

"I read an Internet portal’s news report that there was a protest in Pengerang.

"I found it weird, when I went down there I didn’t see any protest (by locals)," said the former tourism minister today.

Azalina (left), while debating the royal address in the Dewan Rakyat, said that based on her observations, she detected cars used by demonstrators bore foreign registration plates.

"The demonstration we saw, the cars were from a foreign country.

"I don’t want to say it, but we know they are from a neighbouring country," said Azalina.

She downplayed the protest, saying that "only 200 attended" and it was not reflective of the views of people in the constituency, which had more than 33,000 voters.

The demonstrators on Sunday had protested against national oil company Petronas’ plans to set up a gas refinery in Pengerang.

The protesters were concerned that the RM20 billion Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (Rapid) would pollute the environment, and particularly affect sea fishing activities, which is the main source of income for the locals.

"I take this opportunity to stress that the BN government is not a cruel government... the state government has given assurance that their income is protected when they are moved to a new area," said Azalina.

Pengerang residents in seven villages are also worried that the first phase Rapid project, involving 9,500 acres, might see some of them being evicted.

The second phase is even bigger, at 22,500 acres.

The spokesperson for the protesters Kasran Abdullah said locals are not opposed to development, but they don't want to be relocated.

"A four to five acre oil palm plantation can bring about RM1,000 to RM2,000 monthly. If we move out, how are we suppose to feed ourselves?" the former school headmaster said.

He added that 35 percent of the local population are fishermen who are expecting to face water pollution as a result of the refinery.