'Don't cause us more misery,' Penang fisherfolk protest

The fishing community in Tanjong Tokong has lashed out against the proposed Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project as they do not want fisherfolk in the south to suffer losses in livelihood.

They vented their anger at the state government for not learning from the past mistakes of the previous government.

Last week, several groups including Penang Forum, Consumers Association of Penang and Sahabat Alam Malaysia, staged a protest where a fisherman's daughter accused the state of "pouring sand into their ricebowls" by allowing the reclamation project.

Yesterday, Abdul Satar Haris, deputy chief of the Tanjong Tokong Flat Phase 4A, said the livelihood of fisherfolk in his area had suffered much after the Seri Tanjong Pinang 2 reclamation project initiated by the previous Gerakan-BN government.

"We do not want to see the same thing happen to our friends in the south. The beaches of Permatang Damar Laut, Gertak Sanggul and Teluk Kumbar must be preserved for our future generation," Abdul Satar said in a statement.

He referred to Sahabat Alam Malaysia's report on Impact of Coastal Reclamation in Malaysia, which showed how the rights of fisherfolk were eroded by the project, and the various disasters to the environment.

Abdul Satar joined a group of fisherfolk and activists at the Green rally in Tanjong Tokong yesterday evening.

They carried placards urging the Penang government to learn from past mistakes of reclamation projects, instead of repeating them and causing misery to others who live in the area.

The group wants the Penang government to defer the south reclamation project, which will see the creation of three artificial islands in the island's southern post.

They also want other highway projects linked to the Penang Transport Master Plan to be shelved, to protect hillside development and put an end to hillside tragedies like landslides, which claimed several lives in Penang last year.

"Hundreds of acres of fishing areas in Tanjong Tokong, Gurney Drive and Pantai Jerjak have been destroyed by reclamation.

"Now the state's project delivery partner wants to reclaim 4,500 acres of land and sea in the south, which is about the same size as Forest City in Johor," Abdul Satar said.

"They want to build luxury condominiums on the reclaimed land. Who can afford to buy these units, only foreigners. What is the difference between this project and the one in Forest City?" he said.

Penang's RM46 billion transport master plan has been criticised by civil society groups as being unsustainable as it will rob fisherfolk of their homes and livelihood while damaging the environment as well.

But the Penang government defended the project, saying it will enhance connectivity and resolve the state's traffic woes with highways, rail lines and other modes of transport.

Last week, Penang executive council member Dr Afif Bahardin said fisherfolk's fear that the reclamation project would create losses to them was a "perception and misconception".

Fisherman Ismail Din, who joined the protest yesterday, said the reclamation of Seri Tanjung Pinang in 2006, affected their daily catch by 20 percent.

"Today, we suffer losses by 60 percent due to the ongoing reclamation in our area," said the 71-year-old.

Nelayan Komuniti Tanjung Tokong chief Mohd Ishak Abdul Rahman, 72, urged the state to compensate the fisherfolk with bigger boats, stronger nets and better quality engines so that they can go further out to the sea.

"Due to the reclamation, we have lost 80 percent of our daily catch. These days we only fish for our own consumption, not to sell," he lamented. -Mkini