GEORGE TOWN – After being blamed for ignoring the plight of fishermen at the Tg Tokong fishermen’s village, Tg Bungah assemblyman Zairil Khir Johari claimed that the residents had agreed to release the land when requested by the state government for development.
“I visited the village before I became the Tg Bungah rep, and again, when I became the MP for Bukit Bendera.
“At that time, in one of the meetings with the residents, they had agreed that the land they occupied was a coastal reserve owned by the state government and promised to release the land when requested by the state government for any development purpose.
“In 2017, the state government signed an agreement with the private sector to develop an international school, which is now Stonyhurst International School,” he said in the statement.
Zairil added that in the agreement with Stonyhurst, the state will have to vacate those living at the coastal reserve area to allow water sports activities for students when the school is in operation.
The school is currently under construction and is expected to be ready in September.
It was then that Stonyhurst agreed to vacate only part of the beach reserve so that their water sports could be held.
After the census was conducted by the District and Land Office, they discovered that part of the land needed only involved the removal of 12 structures.
Two are residential structures, for which the residents will be offered medium-cost affordable housing and ex-gratia consolation.
Zairil said Stonyhurst has expressed their commitment to helping the local community by providing them with employment opportunities.
“I regret that there are parties who give a less accurate picture of the situation in the village.
“The state government always strives to ensure the welfare of the people is taken care of, but the fact is that the land in the area is a coastal reserve and not a commercial area.
“Even so, I as the people's representative have tried my best to save most of the village,” he said.
The Tg Tokong Fishermen’s Heritage Village Residents Association organised a press conference this morning, requesting the Penang government to explain themselves regarding notices to move out from four structures on April 5.
The residents, who are part of the fishing and tourism industry, were shocked at the sudden notice as their temporary occupation application in 2020 has yet to be approved or rejected.
They have requested for their village to be turned into a heritage fishing village, but there has been no response from the authorities.
They now want to know the official status of their application to use the land here and the next development plan in this area.
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 Vibes, April 10, 2022
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