Persatuan Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Jaringan Nelayan Pantai Malaysia secretary Azrilnizam Omar said the lives of inshore fishermen would be badly affected, as reclamation robs them of precious fishing areas.

In a statement, he also questioned the “high-end” projects that are about to take place on the reclaimed land off the waters of Padang Mat Sirat, saying it would price locals out.

“At a time when Covid-19 is raging and the MCO (movement control order) in place, it is irrational for the state governments of Kedah and Penang to carry out any project that can destroy the coastal ecosystem and affect the rice bowl of community fishermen,” Azrilnizam said.

He also hit out at the Penang government for planning to reclaim more land at the expense of fishermen, with an unfair compensation offered.

Recently, fishermen in the south of Penang affected by the three islands project have decried a RM20,000 compensation offered by the state.

“The compensation offered is not equal to the marine life that is about to be lost after the three islands are created. We are against these artificial islands being created.

“We urge the fishermen in Penang not to accept any compensation from the state as the loss of fishery and their rice bowl cannot be quantified in cash,” he said.

Kedah announced yesterday plans to reclaim close to 1,900 acres of land near the Langkawi airport, slated to have a gross development value of RM40 billion. It will be carried out by a private company from Kuala Lumpur in 15 to 20 years’ time.

In Penang, the three islands project or Penang South Islands have been mooted to fund the RM46 billion transport master plan. The project has yet to begin pending an environmental management plan under the Environment Department.