GEORGE TOWN: An NGO yesterday encouraged Penangites to support large-scale projects in the state, saying their reluctance to do so has blunted their competitive edge.
Speaking at a forum here, Anak Pinang de facto leader Timothy Tye said Penang’s “golden industrial era” in the 1980s was due to “gutsy” state leaders who had taken risks on such projects.
“Unfortunately, Penang has been very complacent in everything,” he added.
“We think we have the best in everything but in reality, our neighbours in the region are zooming past us.”
Often, he said, the people were “afraid to do anything” for fear of destroying the environment.
“The best way to take care of our environment is to have the guts to build and to take care of our environment at the same time.”
Tye, whose group supports the project to reclaim three islands off of Penang island, referred to the Kansai and Chep Lap Kok airports in Japan and Hong Kong as examples of what countries with “the guts” to carry out large-scale projects had achieved.
“They had the guts to do things,” he said. “Our forefathers had the guts to do things, but somewhere along the way, we lost those guts and now other people have overtaken us.
“If we do not do something, our children and their children will lose respect for us for not doing the necessary at the right time, which is now.”
The three islands project, formally known as Penang South Reclamation (PSR), will take about 20 years to complete.
The Penang government plans to reclaim the islands and sell them to fund public transport and new roads in the state.
The project has been heavily criticised by Penang Forum, a coalition of NGOs. It has also received pushback from coastal fishermen who claim they will lose their livelihoods if the project continues.
Tye later told reporters that Anak Pinang had responded to the criticism by Penang Forum, adding that the coalition had “selective amnesia”.
“Once we answer, they keep quiet. Then they repeat the same question all over again.”
He also claimed that the group only allowed “one or two people” to talk.
“A true forum would allow all to talk, not just one or two leaders,” he added.
Tye also denied that Anak Pinang received state funding, saying the government had only provided the venue at Penang Institute.
Former fisherman Mohd Nasarudin Sultan, who spoke at the forum, said the pushback by coastal fishermen was political in nature.
He claimed certain quarters had “incited” the fishermen.
“If a person were truly rational, he or she would support this,” he said.
“PSR will give the fishermen a top-notch jetty and other facilities which will be the envy of other fishermen from other states.”
Nasarudin, who was a fisherman for 10 years, also denied that the reclamation would affect marine life in the area.
“There are no reefs there, either,” he said. “As an ex-fisherman, I know that fish do not stay in one place but follow the flow of the water.
“Sadly there is a lot of empty talk which drowns out the real facts for the fishermen.”
Another forum panellist, senior journalist R Rajasekaran, suggested that Penang Forum help traditional fishermen move into the aquaculture business.
He also said the PSR project, especially the first island below the airport, is needed to allow Penang to expand its high-end industries.
“Some say the existing land in Batu Kawan and Perai is good enough for this.
“I say the days of the mainland being good enough are over. A new playground is needed for new industries, and the first island would fulfil that,” he said. - FMT
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.