Penang fishermen mostly worried about compensation

Most of the fishermen affected by the Penang South Reclamation project are mainly concerned about the compensation they would receive when the project takes off.

However, Penang executive councillor Dr Afif Bahardin (photo, above) said they would back the project if it were beneficial to them.

“Based on our engagement with them, we were told that the reclamation exercise would not affect their fishing areas, but they would need support in terms of other services,” Afif said during the question-and-answer session at the state legislative assembly today.

He was responding to Azrul Mahathir Aziz (Amanah-Bayan Lepas) who asked what is the state government’s plan to ensure that the residents affected by the reclamation can go on with their lives, and that their homes would not be demolished to make way for luxury projects, while they themselves cannot afford to buy homes.

Afif said the state plans to provide 30 percent of public housing to the fishermen and other residents affected by the project, which was given the nod by the federal government.

“To ensure that the fishermen benefit from the project, the state has formed a task force to carry out various initiatives and a mitigation plan to ensure that the fishing community benefit from the project,” said Afif, who is in charge of agriculture, agro-based industries, rural development and health.

He said the mitigation plan, among others, would create jobs in aquaculture, deepsea fishing, water taxi, industrialisation, entrepreneurship, tourism and recreation.

“We have plans to improve the education and skills of the fishermen, local residents and their children.

“We also have plans to improve the infrastructure in the area, including implementing flood mitigation programmes, upgrading river water quality, building floating jetties, beautifying the beach, and improving villages and roads in the area,” he said.

“The state government intends to improve the lives of the locals and fishermen with this project so that they are not left behind," he added.

Several fishermen have joined NGOs to protest against the reclamation project due to its impact on their lives and the environment.

During the 14th general election, the fishermen were asking for about RM200,000 in compensation so that they could buy new boats and fishing nets as the ones they have were inadequate to fish in deep waters. - Mkini