Nurul Izzah: I'll continue fighting for fisherfolk affected by PSI project

 

Pakatan Harapan’s Permatang Pauh candidate Nurul Izzah Anwar said she will continue to fight for the fisherfolk in the state and would continue her stand against the project to reclaim three islands.

She said she will continue her fight for the plight of the fisherfolk by asking the Penang state government to drop the three island reclamation projects under its Penang South Island (PSI) project.

“This is an issue of food security, especially seafood and moreover, this is post-pandemic. I, state exco-member Dr Norlela Ariffin and Machang Bubok assemblyperson Lee Khai Loon have been vocal on this issue.   

“Of course, our records will speak. It is good that the issue has been brought up. 

“The Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority has announced that the price of ikan kembong will be doubled and you can imagine how the poor are struggling in life with the high prices of goods,” she said.    

Nurul Izzah said this during her visit to the Kampung Terus flood mitigation project in Permatang Pauh. She was accompanied by Norlela and Lee.

Penang South Island (PSI) project

She said both Norlela, who is the state executive councillor in charge of Agrotechnology, Food Safety, Rural Development and Health and Lee have objected to the state project and continued to voice the plight of the fisherfolk in the state.

Nurul Izzah said this in response to the statement by Penang Fishermen’s Association chairperson Ibrahim Che Ros yesterday that some 6,000 fisherfolk in the state have warned that they will only vote for candidates in the coming 15th general election who will protect their well-being.

Nurul Izzah and Dr Norlela Ariffin

That includes leaders who oppose the PSI, previously known as the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project.

Ibrahim had said that their vote is for leaders who have been protecting the well-being of the fisherfolk and not for those who destroy their livelihood.

Ibrahim also urged the new federal government that would be formed after GE15 to reject the massive reclamation project as the PSI project would destroy the livelihood of the fisherfolk, for there is an abundance of marine resources in the proposed PSI site.

Nurul Izzah said whichever political party the candidates are from must support the plight of the fisherfolk and protect food security for the future.

“The federal government must also be held responsible for the project as it was part of the approval for the reclamation.

“It must also ensure that every state receives the necessary grants for development and it must also remember that Penang is one of the most successful industrialised states in the country.

“The state contributes taxpayers’ money to the federal government and I don’t want this to be another reason for the state to absolve itself, since it is definitely responsible for the development project,” Nurul Izzah added. - Mkini