Press Statement: Appeal to Federal and State government not to proceed with Penang South Reclamation project
The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) and Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM)
The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) and Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) strongly appeal to both the Federal and State governments not to proceed with the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project.
We deeply regret to learn that the State government has just revealed that the work on the project will start today, 1st September, after the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for the project was approved by the Department of Environment (DOE) in July earlier this year. We wish to know if the State government has obtained the planning permission to commence the project under the Town and Country Planning Act 1976.
This is a legal requirement which needs to be followed. The legal issues aside, we are appalled that the Madani government is hell bent on proceeding with the project despite the concerns and objections raised by fishermen including PEN MUTIARA, the official fishermen's association and the Persatuan Nelayan Kawasan Selatan Pulau Pinang (PNKSPP) and all the units of the fishermen villages here. The fishermen have challenged the approval of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report but no hearing date has been fixed to date by the Appeal Board set up under the Environmental Quality Act, 1974.
The scaling down of the project from three islands to one island has not allayed our concerns and those of the fishing community. This project is simply not needed as we have argued time and again that land on the mainland is more than sufficient for any expansion of economic activities.
Destroying a vital ecosystem that is bio-diverse and which cannot be replaced is simply unjustifiable and does not make any sense. The Madani government has professed to act in the interest of ensuring social justice, but ignoring the strenuous objections from the official fishermen’s association goes in the wrong direction of good governance and a caring government.
We once again appeal to the Federal government and the Prime Minister in particular, and the State government in not exacerbating the environmental and social injustice by proceeding with the reclamation project. Please listen to the voices of those who represent the genuine interests of the fisherfolk and not give in to the lobby of private interests who put profits over people, and halt the commencement of works immediately.
Mohideen Abdul Kader President Consumers Association of Penang
Mageswari Sangaralingam Hon. Secretary Sahabat Alam Malaysia
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M. I have for many years proposed that the Bayan Lepas Airport closed down. Turn it into World class George Town II with sky buildings. Let the factories move over to the mainland and Kedah. Let Komtar be a budget hotel and commercial use. Shift the State Government to George Town II. Pedestrianize George Town I as far as possible. Use trams for free. No Quit Rent and Assessment and perks for general renovation of the George Town I buildings. A Japanese type train connects Tanjong Bungah to George Town II and beyond. The foothills west of Bayan Lepas for affordable housing. Fill the sea between Pulau Jerejak and Bayan Lepas. Turn Butterworth Airport into George Town III for affordable housing. Connect George Town II with Kulim International Airport via rail and road bridge. This will go on to Butterworth and Sg Patani. Finally, an undersea tunnel connects George Town I and Butterworth. Have joint development council with Kedah Government. Turn the southern coast into the World's finest beach with upgraded fishing settlement and low rise tourist hotels. My proposal is MINIMUM COST. NO BORROWINGS. MAXIMUM CREATION OF WEALTH AND EMPLOYMENT. No need to copy Singapore which does not want Penang to be a rival.. Penang becomes World' finest holiday destination ! Penang does not require an airport which services it only !
The Anwar gomen and the Penang regime cannot be trusted to look after the common folks and the environment. There just aren't the right people in gomen with the sensitivity and thoughtfulness to think about and take genuine care of those people who really matter.
Then, there's the serious fear that whatever the gomen does, they will always do a half-baked job, leave the mess for later, or completely eff up. For a start, the harebrained idea is already festering with all the signs the unsound project will eff up long before the monkeys cut the ribbons for completion of yet another thoughtless project that does more harm than good.
I consider the project worse than our famous phallic symbols of extra tall flagpoles.