Dear friends,
We are reaching out to you because you have signed our petition “Save Penang! Reject the 3-Islands Reclamation!” This is part of a campaign initiated by the Penang Forum, a coalition of Penang-based NGOs for sustainable development and local democracy.
We have been consistently objecting to an ongoing developers' assault on Penang's environment. And we are now opposing the 15-year Penang South Reclamation (PSR) which will aggravate climate change by generating 3.2 million tonnes of CO2 annually.
Our campaign is now coming to a critical crossroads and we need your support.
The very existence of Penang fishermen is threatened by the proposed PSR project which will cause unprecedented environmental damage and destroy the livelihoods of many inshore fishermen (nelayan pantai). This is what the nelayan have to say:
“We are a marginal community, judging by our contribution to the national GDP. But the quality of our contribution is incomparable, and because of that, all the fish markets in Penang are flourishing. People who know about health don't want to eat imported fish.”
“The danger of the Penang South Reclamation is not money but human life. It demands human sacrifice. If PSR takes place it will push all fisherman to deeper sea and an open ocean. With their current equipment and skills, they will be hopeless when storms threaten them. Sooner or later wives will become widows, and sons will become orphans. Please act swiftly and stand united to pressure the state government to stop the project.”
“Kerajaan tambak pulau atas tangisan para nelayan.” (The government is reclaiming the islands over the fishermen’s tears).
If the 4,500-acre PSR reclamation project goes ahead, in the first year alone, the coastal mudflats along Penang Island South will be dredged, the fish breeding grounds destroyed, and large-scale sand-mining will start in the Perak seabeds. The 15-year reclamation will not only affect the inshore fishermen but will also threaten the more than RM1 billion marine aquaculture industry in Sungai Udang and Kuala Kurau.
In short, it will affect more than half the fish supply in the peninsula and put Malaysia’s national food security in jeopardy. The consequent drastic hike in seafood prices will compromise Penang's food and tourism industry. Without protein on their table, Malaysia's poorest families will be the hardest hit.
HELP OUR FISHERMEN PROTECT OUR SEAS!
Fishermen’s Solidarity Day (Hari Solidariti Nelayan) will be the day when thousands of fishermen come together to protest this impending ecosystem destruction. The protest will take place from 10am on Mon, 4 November 2019, at Padang Kota, George Town, Penang, while the State Assembly is in session.
The fishermen’s strike (mogok nelayan) is organised by the Penang Fishermen’s Association (PNPP, Persatuan Nelayan Pulau Pinang). The leaders of the inshore fishermen are standing up to be counted and have invited all sectors of the fishing industry to unite in this strike.
"Penang Fishermen to Hang Up Nets on Nov 4"
Along Malaysia’s extensive coastline, about two dozen reclamation or sand-mining projects are ongoing or proposed in more than 9 out of 13 Malaysian states. The nelayan from Perak, Perlis and Negeri Sembilan want to join our protest.
For this event, we are appealing to members of the public to help us raise RM32,900 (USD7,860) to sponsor T-shirts, cloth flags and printed materials. We also hope to cover bus transport for outstation nelayan who are willing to give up one day's earnings to support our common cause.
PENANG TOLAK TAMBAK (Penang Rejects Reclamation)
In the last few years, two major reclamation projects in the north of Penang have left the fishermen there in hardship and dire straits, making it difficult for them to support their families. They are now landing an average of only 30% of their pre-reclamation catch. The pollution from the Pulau Burung landfill, the clearing of mangroves in Teluk Ayer Tawar, and upcoming reclamation in Butterworth Waterfront will just expand the fish-depleted areas.
Realising that they have to protect the seas and the source of their livelihood, the fishermen of Penang Island and Seberang Perai (two parts of Penang state) are monitoring and reporting coastal pollution and illegal dumping, and objecting to plans with negative environmental impacts.
In December 2015, as many as 1,500 fishermen came with their nets to protest against the Penang South Reclamation
In January 2017, the fishermen organised a flotilla of 450 boats to protest the Sri Tanjung Pinang 2 (STP2) reclamation.
In 2019, Penang Forum and the Penang fishermen formed an alliance called Penang Tolak Tambak (Penang Rejects Reclamation). The world-renowned Consumers Association of Penang, a not-for-profit organisation established in 1970, manages the accounts for this campaign, while Friends of the Earth, Malaysia (Sahabat Alam Malaysia) provides on-the-ground support.
On 11 July 2019, Penang Tolak Tambak organised a march to Malaysian Parliament. We mobilised about 300 people from Penang and Perak and presented our petition and memoranda to the Prime Minister and various Ministers.
The demonstrators consisted of over 200 fisherfolk (over 120 from Penang and 80 from Perak), as well as civil society (about 100 NGO representatives and supporters). We were supported by KL NGOs and university students. As a result of this protest, questions were asked in Parliament.
We also presented two petitions – the change.org petition with more than 60,000 signatures, and the Rainforest Rescue petition with more than 180,000 signatures – a total of almost 250,000 signatures! We expect more questioning of the Penang South Reclamation project in the Parliamentary session this October 2019.
OUR FISHERMEN NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT
As climate change is already depleting our marine biodiversity, it is so vital to prevent wanton destruction of our seas. Penang Island South is the nesting grounds of the endangered Olive Ridley Turtle and the Green Turtle. The nearby Kendi Island is the spawning ground for the rich fishery of Penang and northern Perak.
We should call out the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project for what it really is: the developers' combined assault on Penang Island South (serangan gabungan pemaju atas Kawasan Selatan Pulau Pinang) – its fishermen, coastal ecosystem and marine life.
Faced with this overwhelming threat, the fishermen are determined to defend their communities, their livelihoods and our common seas. The odds are stacked against them, and they might not stand a chance without your help.
Please make a stand with us. Continue to circulate our petitions. JOIN US on Hari Solidariti Nelayan and STOP the Penang South Reclamation. Save Penang's fishing industry and save your seafood!
Donate to Penang Tolak Tambak c/o [bank account] Consumers Association Penang, CIMB 8003972225.
Khoo Salma, Penang Forum, on behalf of the Penang Tolak Tambak
Please like our FB page Penang Tolak Tambak
www.facebook.com/PenangTolakTambak/
and help us to disseminate the publicity and FB livestream of the Fishermen's Solidarity Day on Monday, 4 November!
Please sign our petition to cancel the reclamation
Save Penang! Reject the 3 islands reclamation!
Please sign our petition to save the turtles of Penang and Perak (especially Segari) which will be affected by the reclamation Save Malaysia's Sea Turtles!
#SavePenang #PenangTolakTambak #UntukNegeriKita