I’M a resident of Teluk Kumbar, the area where the state government plans to build the LRT and reclaim islands to provide affordable housing and development.
If you visit Teluk Kumbar, which is 20km from George Town, you’ll see how under-developed the place is. There is only one ATM, which is inside a 7-Eleven store. The nearest bank is 6km away, in Sungai Tiram
Penang south has been left out from the state’s industrial and tourism growth in the past. We are still a rural place while other areas have been or are being developed.
Some residents here have had to turn to the sea and become fishermen because of the lack of jobs and business opportunities. I was a fisherman too before I decided to switch to work in the industrial zone, out of Teluk Kumbar, for a more stable income.
Therefore, I welcome the state government’s plan to develop this area. The protests of NGOs against our development are very selfish and shortsighted.
The protesters want us to continue to live as fishermen with unstable income. They are depriving us and our children of the benefits of development.
What’s worse is that they are politicising the issue. The NGOs are working with political parties (PAS and Umno) to prevent development in our area. Religion and racial sentiments are being used to protest against the development that we deserve. The NGOs are not neutral.
The state government and the public must see through the ugly politics behind the protests against our opportunity for a better future in the rural south.
Political parties should stop making our development their political gamble. – September 5, 2019.
*Mohd Nasarudin Sultan reads The Malaysian Insight.
* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.
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Comments
Posted 6 years ago by S L · Reply
This is not true. Fishing has been a very long time industry in this area, very, very long before the factories came up in the Bayan Lepas Industrial Zone. It is a family-type industry where some of the younger generation take to fishing in continuation of their family's fishing tradition. Thousands of city dwellers flock to this " under-developed place" every week end and during holidays! Why would city dwellers travel all the way to this "under-developed place" if it did not have anything to offer them? Similarly, tourists don't come to Penang to see man-made concrete and glass buildings. They run away from their maddening cities to enjoy the peace and tranquility of places like the south of Penang Island which "development" with creation of three man-made islands will destroy forever. Don't be fooled by the developers' claims, supported by the state government, of "development" by destroying this rich fishing area that supplies fresh fish for the lower income people. FOOD SECURITY must come first, not playgrounds for the rich.
Posted 6 years ago by Ravinder Singh · Reply