Penang fishermen will go on strike on 4 November 2019. They will be joined by members of other fishing industry groups and civil society. Follow our FB livestream on that day!
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MEMORANDUM
The Penang State Government’s reclamation project Penang South Reclamation (PSR) is NOT Sustainable and is NOT Inclusive of Penang Fishermen and the B40 Group
1. We, the leaders representing the coastal fishermen, deep sea fishermen, fish breeders, fishermen and fishery industry operators in Penang and Perak, have called on the National Physical Planning Council (MPFN) and the Penang State Government to cancel the Penang South Reclamation Project (PSR, Penambakan Selatan Pulau Pinang), also called the “Penang South Islands” as it will damage the marine ecosystems from Yan, Kedah, to Pulau Pangkor, Perak and thus affect the lives of coastal fishermen, deep sea fisheries as well as the fish farming industry – almost the entire fishing industry of the northern states on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. This will indirectly threaten our national food security.
2. We strongly oppose the PSR project which will create 3 artificial islands of 4,500 acres (larger than the current Forest City), as proposed by the Penang State Government and SRS Consortium. The project was actually submitted by a private developer who was appointed as a Project Delivery Partner (PDP). The project proposal is not transparent and does not provide any benefit to the local people except for certain parties.
3. It is clear that the PSR Project is against Malaysia and Penang’s wish to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations Development Program, especially
• SDG1 (no poverty)
• SDG8 (eligible jobs and economic development)
• SDG10 (reducing inequality)
• SDG11 (sustainable city and community)
• SDG13 (climate action)
• SDG 14 (underwater life), namely, “Conservation and sustainable use of the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development”.
4. We, the fishermen, urge the country's leaders to foster a vision of a sustainable and inclusive city that is supported by the UN-Habitat’s New Urban Agenda. We are weary of the attitude of the Penang State Government, especially the Agriculture EXCO, who look condescendingly on fishermen and do not protect our rights. We, representatives of the Penang Fishermen's Association (Persatuan Nelayan Pulau Pinang), have repeatedly voiced our objections since 2015, through gatherings of as many as 1,500 fishermen, and a gathering at sea in 2017 with the participation of 450 fishing boats. Meanwhile, the state government continues to deny the fishermen’s rights to livelihood in favour of this project.
5. Two petitions related to our protest have been signed by 240,000 supporters, and provides regular updates on the PSR projects, the fate of the fishermen and even the threat to the environment and marine life. Here is the URL of the petition:
https://change.org/p/prime-minister-of-malaysia-save-penang-reject-the-3-islands-reclamation
https://www.rainforest-rescue.org/petitions/1180/save-malaysias-sea-turtles
Coastal, artisinal, traditional fishermen (nelayan pantai, nelayan tradisional) – we are critical to climate resilience strategy
6. We fear that the PSR project which will generate 3.2 million tonnes of carbon a year will jeopardize a sustainable future. We are concerned that catches from the sea are declining due to climate change and warming seas. One day, it will be rare for our children and grandchildren to enjoy the beauty of our natural beaches or see natural coral reefs or taste wild caught fish.
7. Although small-scale fisheries is often viewed as a “sunset industry”, this view does not conform to contemporary perspective. In fact, coastal fishermen from the small-scale fisheries sector have been recognized by the UN Food Administration Organization (FAO) as a sector that should be preserved as one of the food security strategies for the future.
8. In times of global warming and declining global fisheries resources, artisanal fishermen should be maintained for their fisheries practices, which are more sustainable compared to deep-sea fishing or the fish farming industry.
9. Fishermen of small-scale fisheries are the most efficient agents or intermediaries to deliver protein and nutrients to the low-income Bottom 40 percent of the population (B40) group. Meanwhile, livestock and deep sea fisheries industry are more focused on exports and mass commercial markets. As such, the inshore fishers’ role is closely linked to food security for the B40.
10. We, the inshore fishermen are from the B40 group who are "stakeholders" in coastal areas, that is, we play a critical role in protecting the breeding areas of fish, prawn, crabs, such as mangroves, mudflats, and coastal areas, from illegal waste disposal, illegal activities and encroachments by deep-sea boats. Artisanal fishermen have taken an active part in efforts to replant large mangrove swamps following the 2004 Tsunami disaster. For these reasons, we, the artisanal fishermen play an important role in future climate resilience strategies.
The B40 Group will be affected by sea reclamation and sand-mining
11. As mentioned by the YB Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industries in Parliament on July 16, 2019, the PSR project will affect the lives of 5,000 Penang fishermen who are looking for sustenance in the coastal waters of Penang, including the Penang Island South area. In addition, the Minister of Agriculture in Parliament recently said that sand-mining in Perak would affect the lives of 2,300 Perak fishermen as a result of coastal erosion, destruction of mangroves and declining marine resources.
12. In the last two decades, coastal reclamation near Tanjung Tokong and Bagan Ajam have polluted the seawaters north of Penang. The fishermen's catch has declined, they can only catch 30% of the pre-reclamation harvest. The poor quality of seawater has long undermined Batu Feringghi’s reputation as a tourism resort. The quality of the seawater there has been very disappointing to tourists and severe pollution has even spread to Telok Bahang and to Pantai Acheh National Park.
Food security of Penang and Malaysia will be affected, especially for B40
13. The damage to ecosystems in this area will destroy marine aquaculture in Penang and northern Perak, that is, half of mariculture production in Peninsular Malaysia. The destruction of the fisheries industry will affect food security as highlighted by the Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry. Residents of Peninsular Malaysia will be faced with rising seafood prices.
14. Increasing prices of fish and prawn will certainly contribute to the rising costs of living, especially for the B40 group. Many fishermen are from the B40 group and have close links with the B40 community who are also their customers, such as small-scale traders like nasi lemak or economy rice sellers. In short, the PSR Project will not only affect the food chain but also threaten the overall well-being of Penang people. The food and tourism industry of Penang will also be affected.
15. The fresh seafood supplied by fishermen is healthy and delicious, and is important not only for household consumption, but also served by local food vendors and restaurants. If the supply of prawns, crabs and fish is depleted, then the reputation of the Penang food industry will decline and this will impact on attractiveness of the tourism in the state.
PSR is a project that does not benefit locals
16. The PSR project will cause many fishermen to suffer unemployment, starting with fishermen in key impact areas. The EIA report gives suggestions of unsuitable alternative jobs such as security guards or Grab drivers. Jobs such as boat taxi drivers may not succeed because of high costs of operation and low demand. While other suggestions focus on aquaculture and deep sea fishing, fishermen who lack capital or skill sets will not venture into those sectors except as crew and labourers.
17. The PSR project carried out to create resort-like real estate does not benefit the people. The reason given for the three-island reclamation design (instead of foreshore reclamation) is to allow fishermen to still go down to the sea. However, the design of the PSR does not take into account the southwest monsoon that would carry sedimentation and sludge into the channels between the artificial islands. As a result, these channels might not be maintained properly despite the millions of taxpayer money spent each year.
18. The implementation of the PSR project will put development pressure on existing settlements and traditional kampongs in Penang Island South. Rapid and high-density new developments will change the identity of this area, mainly due to the absence of a Local Plan. Property prices will skyrocket, followed by rising costs of living. Given that most of the village land is not owned by the villagers, and that they lack security of tenure, this situation may cause some locals to be marginalised, or forced to move out, or be evicted from their own homes and kampongs.
19. It is amazing how the Social Impact Assessment Report (SIA) for the PSR made under the Town and Country Planning Act (TCPA) was approved on May 17, 2019, when many fishermen in the impact area have not heard of or been informed about this SIA survey.
20. Penang fishermen are also dissatisfied with the approval of the EIA Report on June 25, 2019, through a process that is not transparent, as raised by NGOs. In addition, we have sent a memorandum of protest to the Department of Environment and the Penang State Government, but we have not been given the opportunity to present our views on the matter raised.
21. Coastal fishermen can also play a role in engaging the fishing community in the eco-tourism sector. The fishermen’s way of life is full of tradition, local wisdom and unique heritage, passed down from generation to generation. If the reclamation project is carried out, the traditional villages in Penang Island South will disappear; of course, this will affect Penang's eco-tourism industry.
22. The PSR development is not for fishermen or Malaysians, but only for certain parties who want to profit by seizing areas of the sea where fishermen are seeking sustenance. Fishermen and locals will not be able to afford the housing built on PSR. Luxury condos will be on sale to foreign buyers. This project is similar to Forest City the Malaysia Prime Minister himself criticised as a project that has caused the country to lose sovereignty over some of its own territory.