GEORGE TOWN – The Penang Fishermen’s Association (PenMutiara) today protested efforts by a private company to acquire a 2.83ha of land developed by the association to construct a tuna port project in the state.
PenMutiara chairman Mahadi Md Rodzi said the land – located in Batu Maung, here, which houses the fish port complex, offices, hotels, and restaurants – is believed to have been taken over by a private company in 2018.
“We do not object to any party wanting to land its tuna catch here, but if it intends to take over the land, we will protest strongly,” he said at a press conference today.
Earlier, Mahadi chaired the 36th PenMutiara Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the PenMutiara Restaurant here, and which saw the attendance of more than 100 representatives.
Mahadi said PenMutiara had agreed to defend the land owned by the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) because it did not want the land owned by the agency to be mortgaged for the second time.
He revealed that, in 2006, a private company had planned to build a tuna port under the Malaysia International Tuna Port project and obtained 8.9ha of land owned by LKIM.
“However, the project was abandoned and eventually the land was mortgaged to a private company.
We do not want history to repeat itself.”
It is understood that the 8.9ha land located near Wisma Nelayan Pelabuhan LKIM in Batu Maung is now being developed as a luxury housing project.
Mahadi added that he felt uncomfortable when there were efforts by the company that used “certain powers” to realize its dreams.
“Several series of discussions have been held before, but it has not been finalised yet.
“We also sent a letter of protest by hand to Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee on November 1.”
Additionally, Mahadi said, during the AGM, all members reached an agreement for the sixth consecutive time (since 2015) to oppose the implementation of the Penang South Reclamation project.
Apart from that, he said, PenMutiara will also object to the 407ha sea reclamation project ranging from Bagan Ajam to Telok Air Tawar. – The Vibes, November 25, 2021.
