ALJAZEERA
Fisherman fear future as Malaysia mulls Penang reclamation plan

Plan to create three artificial islands off Penang's southern coast worries fishermen and environmental campaigners.

by Kate Mayberry

Sungai Batu, Penang, Malaysia - People from the villages hugging Penang's southern coast have fished the seas off the Malaysian island for generations, scooping up prawns and digging out crabs to feed the island's food-loving residents.

The fishermen know the vagaries of tide and wind, and the dangers of the monsoon that sweeps in each June.

But now their existence is under threat.

The government of the state of Penang wants to create three artificial islands covering 1,821 hectares off the gently curving bays where the fishermen live and work to help pay for an ambitious $11bn transport plan to ease traffic congestion, improve public transit services and relieve what it says is development pressure on the hilly and forested island.

Read more....

#SavePenang   #PenangTolakTambak