GEORGE TOWN – An anti-reclamation movement based in Penang has been formed with the sole objective of lobbying the next federal government to ban such projects nationwide.
Among its other demands are for pending land reclamation projects to be stopped while completed ones must undergo rehabilitation to ensure marine life is protected.
The movement, which currently has about 300 supporters, is also pushing for the massive Penang South Islands (PSI) project to be scrapped.
The core spokesmen for the movement are Penang Forum activist Khoo Salma Nasution and the National Fishermen’s Association chairman Abdul Hamid Bahari.
Khoo said that the PSI project continues to be championed by the state government despite the Environment Department having twice rejected the environmental impact assessments on the project.
Hamid said that it is now time to listen to fishermen as the majority of the reclamation projects do not benefit the local populace.
“Only the rich can afford the scenic developments on reclaimed land. But over time, it causes ecological damage.
“If we find that the parties are not supportive of the idea, then it is logical that each fishermen’s association committee in the country call on their members to withdraw support for political parties who are not keen to listen to our grievances.”
Both took turns to speak to the media in a press conference at the Bayview George Town, citing that they will monitor the conduct of political parties during the general election campaign season.
There are about 100,000 registered inshore and deep-sea fishermen in the country, and the movement now has 32 organisations.
It also listed 24 reclamation projects nationwide that are either in the planning and construction stages or newly completed.
Penang has the most projects with six, followed by three in Melaka.
The states with reclamation projects are Perlis, Kedah, Pahang, Perak, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Johor, and Sabah.
The movement will be submitting a summary of its findings to the federal government and the administrations in each state after the election. – The Vibes, October 29, 2022
