ENVIRONMENTAL group Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) has again urged the Penang government to cancel reclamation plans in the state.

Its president, S.M. Mohamed Idris, said the state must consider the adverse impact of reclamation projects on coastal areas and the marine ecosystem, as well as the fisheries sector.

He said sedimentation from reclamation projects polluted the water in coastal zones and damaged fishing nets, threatening the livelihood of fishermen.

He said areas already affected by reclamation projects included Tanjung Tokong, Sg Gelugor, Jelutong, Batu Uban, Persiaran Gurney and Queensbay in Bayan Baru.

Mohamed Idris called on the state government not to proceed with the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project, which would feature three man-made islands covering 4,500 acres off the southern coast of Penang island.

“SAM urges the Penang government to immediately cancel the decision to carry out reclamation projects in the state.

“If the PSR project gets the green light, it poses a worse threat to the marine environment, coastal areas and livelihood of fishing communities,” he said today.

He said the 2015 environmental impact assessment report on the PSR project, which is meant to fund the multi-billion-ringgit Penang Transport Master Plan, stated that 2,757 licensed fishermen operated within the project’s impact zone.

The wholesale value of fish landed in the area was estimated at RM42.09 million, or 12.4% of Penang island’s total wholesale value of fish landings.

Mohamed Idris said fishermen had complained to SAM about a decline in their catch and income after reclamation projects were carried out.

“Sea pollution and ever-decreasing fishing zones due to reclamation work carried out in coastal areas have caused a decline in the fisheries sector and amount of fish landed.

“Fishermen complain that their income has seen a decrease by 70% at times.

“SAM is concerned about the continuing threat to the livelihood of more than 4,000 coastal fishermen in the state due to ongoing and proposed reclamation projects.”

He said objections had been raised in the past by fishermen and civil society bodies, including SAM, but there had yet to be an assurance from the state government that such projects would not threaten the environment and fishermen’s livelihood.

Fisherman Mohd Maidin Abdul Hamid, 62, said his income used to be about RM1,600 a month, but it had since gone down to less than RM600 because of the changes to the marine environment.

“It is hard to even hit RM600. I used to fish in the southwestern coast of the island, where there were schools of white pomfret (bawal) and threadfin (senangin),” he told reporters near a reclamation site in front of Queensbay Mall in Pantai Jerejak.

Highlighting the impact of the reclamation, he said his boat hit a buoy at the site in July.

“It was about 1.30am. The buoys had not lights. Why didn’t they affix lights or beacons? Where is their regard for safety?”

Maidin was not injured in the accident, but had to cut his fishing net that had become entangled with the buoy, which caused him losses.

He said he had brought up the issue with Deputy Chief Minister I Mohd Rashid Hasnon, the local assemblyman, as well as exco in charge of fisheries Dr Afif Bahardin, and asked for the state to look into it. – October 5, 2017.