The real reason they’re against Penang reclamation project

 

From Joshua Woo

Agriculture and food industries deputy minister Che Abdullah Mat Nawi came to Penang today and expressed his desire to cancel the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project.

He is the latest among federal politicians who are against the reclamation project. There are two things in common among them in relation to the PSR.

First, all of them cite environmental reasons in opposing the PSR. Second, all of them are silent about reclamation projects in states ruled by the Perikatan Nasional regime.

We hear nothing from these so-called environmentally conscious politicians when it comes to Langkawi’s RM40 billion reclamation project.

We hear nothing from these same politicians about Melaka’s reclamation project which is twice the size of PSR.

Environmental reasons, really?

Any observant person would know what these politicians are up to. They are playing politics with the PSR.

It’s not so much to champion the environment as to scandalise Penang’s development so that during the upcoming general election, it will appear that the state government has failed in its job.

Of course, anti-development NGOs such as Penang Forum, Sahabat Alam Malaysia, and the Consumers’ Association of Penang, which have shown close affinity with these opportunist politicians, welcome such a political move.

If the PSR takes off, there will be tens of thousands of job opportunities generated and the injection of billions of ringgit worth of domestic investment into Penang.

That of course will make the state government look good and boost its chances of being re-elected again.

The success of the PSR will show to the whole of Malaysia why Penang is not Kelantan, the home state of Che Abdullah.

My message as a Penangite to the deputy minister is: Don’t play politics with Penang’s future. - FMT

Joshua Woo is an FMT reader.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.