The Malaysian Insight

THE Penang government will not meet with Muslim pressure group Gerakan Pembela Ummah (Ummah) over the plight of fishermen affected by a massive land reclamation project.

“We’ll meet the fishermen themselves. As for Ummah, we’ll see them in the mosque,” said Penang exco Afif Bahardin.

Afif, in charge of agriculture, agro-based industry, health and rural, said the state had a committee to discuss the project’s impact on fishermen.

“The committee has begun discussing compensation issues and programmes to assist the fishermen. This is more important that entertaining Ummah’s request,” Afif told reporters today at an event with Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow in George Town.

Chow earlier said the state would prioritise discussions with direct stakeholders affected by the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project – building three man-made islands covering more than 1,800ha.

“Afif will be arranging meetings with representatives from the fishermen associations once the compensation issue is discussed.

“We will only meet with direct stakeholders. If other non-governmental organisations want to state their views, we will consider.”

Both leaders were responding to a protest organised by Ummah in Penang yesterday that drew some 5,000 people, including fishermen.

The Save Penang Island demonstration called on voters to remove the Pakatan Harapan state government over the PSR issue.

The reclamation project is expected to affect fish and prawn breeding grounds, as well as fishing areas in northern Perak, due to sand dredging to build the islands.

Land created by the project will be sold to fund the RM46 billion Penang Transport Master Plan aimed at easing traffic congestion through trains, more highways and an undersea tunnel from the mainland. – September 9, 2019.