NGOs stage protest against Penang's mega projects
A group of NGOs led by Penang Forum and Consumers Association Penang today staged a protest against the state's mega-road projects.
Motorists driving along Jalan Masjid Negeri honked at the 30-odd protestors, whose colourful placards read "Scrap reclamation, protect natural environment", "Save the fisherfolks in Penang", and "CM, please help to move people".
The projects the NGOs are against include the Pan-Island Link 1, Penang South Reclamation project, undersea tunnel linking the island and mainland in Butterworth, and the multi-billion ringgit Penang Transport Master Plan...
A group of NGOs led by Penang Forum and Consumers Association Penang today staged a protest against the state's mega-road projects.
Motorists driving along Jalan Masjid Negeri honked at the 30-odd protestors, whose colourful placards read "Scrap reclamation, protect natural environment", "Save the fisherfolks in Penang", and "CM, please help to move people".
The projects the NGOs are against include the Pan-Island Link 1, Penang South Reclamation project, undersea tunnel linking the island and mainland in Butterworth, and the multi-billion ringgit Penang Transport Master Plan.
Penang Forum representative Khoo Salma Nasution said the fact that NGOs were not invited to the state's public hearing for the proposed 2030 state structure plan (PSP), which is expected to come into effect this year, indicated that the state did not hear out those who objected to projects.
The plan is meant to be a guide on what can and cannot be built in the state until 2030. It is expected to be approved in June this year.
"They may have invited some people but we were not included, we want to state our opposition to the reclamation projects," she told reporters after the 30-minute protest.
"What is the different between the reclamation project and Forest City in Johor? Both are development for who? Not for us, as we cannot afford to own those units," added the one-term Penang local councillor.
"Why do they reject the Forest City but not this in Penang? The deal is not inked yet and it would not be difficult to stop the reclamation project, as it is not beneficial to the people of Penang," she stressed.
The reclamation includes the creation of three artificial island in the south. The area's fishermen had complained that they will lose their livelihood.
However, state exco Dr Afif Bahardin said the notion that fishermen would suffer due to the project was a "misconception".
On Feb 27, state executive councillor Jagdeep Singh Deo had said that a public hearing on the PSP was held for two months, a month extra than required under the law from September to November last year.
Additionally, public hearing was held from Feb 13 to 15 and Feb 22 this year, with a total of 53 people attending, Jagdeep was quoted as saying in Free Malaysia Today last week.
Jagdeep also said they had many feedback sessions, with a total of 537 objections taken into account.
Out of the total of 53 people present in the public hearings, Jagdeep said that there were 46 members of the public, three from government agencies, three developers and a rep from NGO Think City.
