We weren’t consulted on 3-islands reclamation plan, say some Penang fishermen

Some Teluk Kumbar fishermen claim they were not consulted on the reclamation project. In the background is the cape of Batu Maung and the islet of Pulau Rimau.

GEORGE TOWN:

A group of fishermen on the southern coast of Penang Island today claimed they were not consulted over the state’s plan to reclaim three islands in the area.

About 30 fishermen from Teluk Kumbar, which will face one of the three reclaimed islands, said only a select group of people were called in to be briefed by the state authorities.

Mohd Zabri Yusof, 64, said that by calling the select group, the proponents of the reclamation project could proclaim that the fishermen were in full support of the plan.

In reality, he claimed, most of the fishermen in the state were unhappy with the project as it would damage marine life and force the fishermen to go further offshore.

Bakri Bakar, 53,(seated) speaking to reporters at Kampung Nelayan, Teluk Kumbar, Penang today. Also present on the right is Penang Pas chief Muhammad Fauzi Yusoff (in white songkok).

Going further into the sea required bigger boats and engines which they could not afford, he said.

“They say all fishermen have accepted the reclamation project. How is that possible when they select only certain people to interview? They ask those who don’t even go to sea. These are just hobby fishermen,” Zabri claimed.

The state government has proposed constructing three islands, measuring 1,821ha in total, on the southern coast. These will later be sold to the highest bidder to finance RM46 billion worth of rail lines, highways and other projects under the Penang transport master plan (PTMP).

Bakri Bakar, 53, said the fishermen’s complaints to the state government had fallen on deaf ears.

Mohd Zabri Yusof, 64, says only a select group was briefed on the reclamation plans.

“My hope is that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad can intervene and help the fishermen whose livelihood has been neglected,” he said.

In Teluk Bahang, coastal fisherman Faisal Sabri, 36, said that as part of the project, a 12.8km landing jetty would be built to connect the fishermen’s village on the island to the furthest reaches of the reclaimed islands.

He said that while this looked good in theory, it would take the fishermen 20 litres of diesel to navigate the entire length of the jetty and back.

“The jetty aside, we will be badly affected by the excavation and unwanted sludge from the reclamation. They will dump it in the path where we usually fish and our nets will get stuck in it,” Faisal said.

A letter posted on a fishermen’s rest area telling occupants of illegally built shacks and rest areas at Teluk Kumbar to clear out in 14 days.

The fishermen also face the problem of having to clear their shacks, rest areas and food stalls by the Teluk Kumbar beach by the end of the month.

They said they received a letter from the southwest district land office on Monday giving them two weeks to clear the illegal structures built on government land.

“They want to clear the entire 4.8km stretch from Sungai Batu in the east to Teluk Kumbar in the west, possibly to prepare for the reclamation,” one of the fisherman, who asked not to be named, said.

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We weren’t consulted on 3-islands reclamation plan, say some Penang fishermen

They claim only a select group of fishermen were briefed by the Penang authorities and that the project will damage marine life and force them to go further offshore.