GEORGE TOWN – The state government is finalising a compensation package for fishermen affected by the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project.
State Infrastructure and Transport committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said the state is working on three packages that will be made through the implementation of the Social Impact Management Plan (SIMP).
“Under SIMP, one of the three plans is the living assistance package that will be given in the form of ex-gratia payment and monthly allowance.
“The second is the empowerment package involving the construction of new fishing jetties, co-operatives, tuition and education schemes for children of fishermen, retraining schemes for fishermen and their children, and employment opportunities for those who qualify.
“The last package is to give priority to the registration of affordable housing.”
Zairil (Tg Bungah-Pakatan Harapan) said this while answering additional questions from Goh Choon Aik (Bukit Tambun-PH) at the Penang assembly today.
Zairil added the state government through respective offices and agencies had collected detailed information to design appropriate compensation packages, according to the needs of fishermen.
Meanwhile, he said that overall the PSR project had received all mandatory approvals from the federal government.
“Following the environmental impact assessment (EIA) approval obtained earlier, one of the conditions is to prepare an environmental management plan (EMP) report for the approval of the state Department of Environment.
“The EMP report will require appointed contractors to comply with the EIA approval requirements during the reclamation work.”
The PSR project was presented to the National Physical Planning Council last year, which in turn, has given 18 conditions the state needed to fulfil.
The reclamation project also received EIA approval in June 2019, in addition to the letter of approval in August 2019 after the social impact assessment report from PLAN Malaysia. – The Vibes, October 12, 2020
