GEORGE TOWN – Residents of the Tanjung Tokong fishermen’s village have demanded that the Penang administration explain the construction of an international school, as rumours say that the development will destroy 12 structures there.
Tanjung Tokong Fishermen Association assistant secretary Syahifah Hawa Zamzuri revealed that on April 5, four individuals who had built sheds for the safekeeping of their nets and fishing gear had received a notice from the Penang Land and Mines Office.
The authorities had identified them as intruders and gave them 12 days to clear the area.
“Why did we get a letter last week about four structures when we made a temporary occupation application (TOL) for the 78 structures here in 2020? There had been no notice or feedback saying our application was rejected.
“Now there are rumours that up to 12 structures here are going to be demolished, but there has been no notice.
“To prevent us from being swayed by rumours, we want to come out and ask for a direct response from the state government, maybe even Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow himself or Tanjung Bungah assemblyman Zairil Khir Johari for an answer,” she said.
Throughout the years, the Tanjung Tokong coastline has been reclaimed multiple times, to the extent that the cape its name once represented is nothing more but a distant memory.
For instance, the fishermen’s dock has been replaced with a two-storey hypermarket, marina mall, and luxury homes and condominiums.
The 2004 tsunami that wiped out some of the flatlands in Tanjung Tokong had forced the fishermen there to move their storage sheds further northwards.
In order to protect their homes, the fishermen had applied for their first TOL in 2013, but were rejected. They made an appeal that same year but it was also rejected in 2014.
Their latest appeal was in 2020.
During the 14th general election in 2018, the residents had submitted 11 demands to the electoral candidates for the Tanjung Bungah constituency – where Zairil became their assemblyman.
However, the residents claimed that the DAP lawmaker has not acknowledged their demands.
Wafiudin Hamdan of the Tanjung Tokong Fishermen’s Heritage Village Residents Association said that their issues caught the attention of another assemblyman, instead of their elected representative.
“This issue only got the attention of the state exco when Agrotechnology and Food Safety exco Norlela Ariffin approached us and became very involved in our plight.
“She was in discussion with us and came up with ideas for a new jetty, creating a safe and clean village, and building food security, but some of the exco members did not agree with it – that’s the funny part!
“So do you want to develop the fishing community or not? We need clarification,” the spokesman said.
Now the residents also want the Penang government to clarify if a mini-stadium is going to be built on the land they are now living on, based on hearsay from the international school’s project supervisor.
The 3.3-acre village consists of 78 structures consisting of homes, stores, and huts belonging to coastal fishermen; homestay houses, community fire and rescue cabins, surau, and a fisherman’s market.
The international school is under construction and is expected to be completed in September. – The Vibes, April 10, 2022
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