The Malaysian Insight

GERAKAN Pembela Ummah (Ummah) has urged Penang residents to change the state government over its insistence on proceeding with a massive land reclamation project.

Penang Ummah chairman Akhir Che Mat said the state was not listening to the people’s opposition to the project and voters ought to exercise their power.

“We must realise that this is a political issue. If the government doesn’t want to listen to the people’s voices, the fishermen’s voices, then we must push for change.

“The people have the right to change the government if the government cannot be trusted,” he told reporters after Ummah’s “Save Penang Island” gathering at Permatang Damar Laut on the island today.

The demonstration was also attended by state level PAS and Umno leaders as well as local party, the Penang Front Party.

The rally drew more than 5,000 people, many of whom were from the island’s fishing communities, as well as members of the public.

Rally goers urged the state government to cancel the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project, which will create three man-made islands covering more than 1,800ha in the south of the island.

Fishermen in the area have said that their livelihoods will be jeopardised as the project will affect fish and prawn breeding grounds.

Land under the PSR project is to be sold to fund the state government’s RM46 billion Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP), an ambitious plan to alleviate traffic woes on the island and improve connectivity with more highways, trains, a cable car and an undersea tunnel from the mainland.

In July, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the Department of Environment had approved the project and attached 72 conditions, which civil society groups want disclosed to the public.

Akhir said Ummah was not opposed to development but the impact on people’s livelihoods had to be considered.

“We just want it reviewed again,” he said.

He said Ummah also planned to raise the fishermen’s grouses with the relevant Penang exco in charge and with Deputy Chief Minister 1 Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman.

“If our request to meet is not entertained, we will bring it up to the federal level.”

The rally today exceeded Ummah’s expectations, Akhir added, as organisers had expected between 1,000 to 2,000 people only. – September 8, 2019.