The stand was taken in a resolution at the association’s annual general meeting (AGM) at the Pen Mutiara hotel here today.
Association president Mahadi Md Rodzi said the resolution proves that Pen Mutiara represents all the fishermen in the state in opposing the projects.
“We will stick to our stance in opposing all reclamation projects, including the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project proposed at the southern part of Penang Island and the newly proposed Rayston project in Bagan Ajam, Butterworth,” he said at a press conference after the AGM.
Mahadi also slammed allegations that Pen Mutiara had attempted to “blackmail, ignore or deceive” fishermen who claimed to be in favour of the PSR project.
“There is no such thing as fishermen who support this project versus the association that opposes this project,” he said.
On Oct 13, Pen Mutiara claimed that 435 fishermen had been deceived into signing a pro-PSR petition launched by a group called Pertubuhan Lestari Alam Sekitar Pulau Pinang with promises of Covid-19 relief aid, ex-gratia payments, boats and other goodies.
Pen Mutiara also voiced its objection to a rumoured plan by a private tuna company to acquire a seven-acre land owned by the Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) in Batu Maung to build a tuna landing port.
“We are not against the tuna landing port, but we do not want it to be built on LKIM land, where we already have the Pen Mutiara hotel and restaurant, as well as a fishermen’s jetty.
“We have submitted an objection letter by hand to the agriculture and food industries ministry,” he said.
PSR, the reclamation project proposed by the Penang state government, involves the construction of three man-made islands covering 1,800ha in total. The state government intends to sell the islands to finance its ambitious Penang Transport Master Plan.
The state government’s plan hit a brick wall recently when the environment department revoked the environmental impact assessment approval granted in 2019, upon an appeal by a group of fishermen from the Sungai Batu fishermen’s unit.
The Bagan Ajam land reclamation project is intended for a mixed development by Rayston Consortium (Butterworth) Sdn Bhd.