Wan Junaidi was referring to remarks made by Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy, who had said the minister “should not have waited so long to come out with his biased remarks about Penang’s project; not just a few months ahead of the next general election”.
“I am sure it is an election gimmick to retain the Balik Pulau parliamentary seat and other state seats in the area,” he said.
Wan Junaidi, in response to Ramasamy, said he had merely expressed his views on the matter and was not looking at the elections.
“I expressed my personal views with whatever knowledge I had on the issue. My stand is consistent.
“To me, you can have reclamation projects like those in Johor and Melaka, but if you are creating another coastline, I do not agree.
“It is unfortunate that my personal views have been viewed as political. It was not political,” he told FMT when contacted.
Wan Junaidi was reported to have said he had received a protest note against the reclamation project from the Penang Fishermen’s Association.
He disagreed with the project as it would not only affect marine resources and affect the fishermen’s income but would also result in a change in the country’s continental shelf.
“If the reclamation extends more than three nautical miles (the limit allowed under the law) from the shoreline, then the country’s continental shelf will be shifted and it will possibly encroach into international waters. I can’t agree with such a move,” he had said.
He also remarked that the reclamation would be “illegal for implementation now if the state government insists on pursuing it”.
He stressed that reports had yet to be received from the developer and the state government on the project’s social and political impact as well as on marine life.
Wan Junaidi explained that he had paid a visit to the area after being invited twice by the fishermen’s association.
“I have come here to Penang based on my schedule. The fishermen came to see me and asked me to pay a visit and so I did.”
On Ramasamy’s assertion that he had been vocal about what is happening in Penang but silent on issues affecting fishermen and the environment elsewhere, Wan Junaidi said this was not true.
He went on to list down the environmental issues he had spoken out on and reiterated that he had been consistent all this while.
He said he had spoken up on environmental issues like bauxite mining in Kuantan, encroachment into the Merapoh forest in Pahang, ammonia pollution in a river in Johor, pollution in Semenyih, illegal factories and chicken farms.
“I have also spoken about roadkill and expressed outrage over drivers who do not care about animals.”
He expressed regret over the death of a sun bear after being hit by a motorcyclist in Kuala Dungun, Terengganu, several days ago.
Minister’s attack on reclamation project to win votes, says Ramasamy
Wan Junaidi: Penang reclamation project illegal if implemented now