GEORGE TOWN – Controversial issues involving the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project heated up the state assembly sitting today during the winding-up session by opposition assemblyman Mohd Yusni Mat Piah (Penaga-PAS).
Yusni said he stood by calls from fishermen to reject the mega project, and called on the state government to hear their objections to the project.
This, he said, is in light of an appeal hearing to challenge the decision made by the Department of Environment (DoE) director-general, who had approved the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report for the PSR, taking place from September 6 to 9.
Yusni’s speech, however, was interrupted by Muhammad Faiz Fadzil (Permatang Pasir-Amanah), who asked the PAS assemblyman whether Yusni agreed that the PSR project is capable of creating new jobs, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Lee Chun Kit (Pulau Tikus-DAP) also intervened to ask what Yusni’s alternative plan is to revive the state economy affected by the pandemic.
“We don’t want to be like Kelantan,” he said.
In response, Yusni replied, “that’s why the state government needs to listen to the views and complaints of non-governmental organisations (NGOs)”.
Lee, however, replied that he did not see the Kelantan government holding discussions with NGOs on logging issues in the state.
“Not everything needs to be shown,” Yusni said in a raised tone.
Faiz then interjected and recalled the statement by former deputy agriculture and food industry minister Datuk Che Abdullah Mat Nawi, who in June claimed that the state government wanted to abolish the Malay community through the PSR, a move he described as racist.
Yusni, however, calmly replied that this matter was opposed to by all groups, regardless of religion and race, including by Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar.
Yusni’s remarks immediately attracted the attention of Afif Bahardin (Seberang Jaya-Bersatu), who disputed the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government’s stance in Penang on the PSR issue.
“I received information from my friends in PKR that the PKR president himself has asked why the state government is still continuing with the PSR.
“So, Pinang Tunggal (Datuk Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abd Rahman) represents the party or the state government?” he asked.
Zakiyuddin is the Fishermen’s Task Force Committee chairman for the PSR project.
Afif’s question triggered further protests from M. Satees (Bagan Dalam-DAP), Lee and Phee Boon Poh (Sg Puyu-DAP).
Phee then asked Afif, who is also former exco for agrotechnology, food safety, rural development and health, to state his stance on the PSR.
“I myself was involved with this project before, but I raised this because they raised issues in other states.
“I agree (with the PSR), but what I am raising is why Permatang Pauh (Nurul Izzah) does not agree with the PSR, despite being in the same component party.”
Afif had previously served as state exco since 2013 but resigned in March last year, after quitting PKR following the Sheraton Move. – The Vibes, September 2, 2021
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