THE Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) has urged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the unity government to put a halt to the Penang South Islands (PSI) reclamation project which will cause irreversible damage to the environment and the fishing community.
According to CAP president Mohideen Abdul Kader, the project will have a devastating impact on the environment, food security, climate, the fishing community and the demography of Penang Island and thus goes against the MADANI framework one of the pillars of which is to promote sustainable development.
“We are curious as to why the Penang state government is adamantly insisting on proceeding with the reclamation project despite its adverse ecological and social impacts,” Mohideen said in a statement earlier today (May 5).
“Faced with strong criticism of the reclamation project, the state government is now justifying the project by claiming that Penang needs more land for development and creating jobs.”
Mohideen said this claim is baseless and is contradicted by the reality on the ground.
“Just across the second bridge in Batu Kawan, where over 3,000 acres of land is available for economic growth. It has all the amenities and is close and well connected to the Butterworth Port and Bayan Lepas International Airport,” he remarked.
“The Chief Minister himself had admitted recently that over 12,000 hectares of land in Seberang Perai can be used for development.
“Also, several industrial estates in Penang are under-utilised. The state should focus on attracting investments there instead of pouring money into the sea for a problematic project.”
Mohideen also noted that the mega reclamation project will aggravate the climate crisis as the project would require reclaiming a whopping 1,821ha from the sea, an important carbon sink, to be covered with sand and soil.
Additionally, the project will generate 3.2 mil tons of carbon emissions annually, which is in violation of Malaysia’s commitment under the Paris Agreement.
Despite previous warning by Department of Environment director-general Norlin Jaafar that the PSI project will “cause permanent and residual impacts on mudflat ecosystems, fishing grounds, turtle landing areas, and some coral reefs”, Mohideen lamented that it did not stop the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the reclamation project from being approved.
“If the project was to be successfully implemented, it would also bring about a major demographic change, with the local fishing community and those in the B40 segment being displaced to seek shelter in other places,” he argued.
“Their places will be taken over by the rich and wealthy foreigners from China, Hong Kong, and the West. Is favouring both the local and foreign wealthy elite in line with the MADANI principles?” – May 5, 2023