We have every right to know what's going on
By - 16 November 2015 @ 11:00 AM
NO one appreciates being kept in the dark, especially if something is happening in their backyard. This is simply because being a well-informed society, any information can be obtained with the click of a mouse.
No wonder some 1,000 fishermen, whose fishing grounds in the sea have been “encroached” on for soil surveys, are not at all amused with the DAP-led state government's inapt silence on the matter.
During a visit to Permatang Damar Laut and Teluk Kumbar recently, the fishing community there claimed they are kept in the dark on the sea works and demanded answers from the state authorities.
All they know is that people have been going out to sea frequently over the past two months to conduct soil testing and several steel beams have been erected in the water between 2km and 4km from shore.
Rumours are going around that the sea will be reclaimed, among others, for expansion of the airport runway, a rail project, a coastal highway or even a holiday resort.
Fishermen Rosli Yusoff, 58, and Mohd Ismail Ahmad, 54, who head the Sungai Batu fishermen community, say they have sought information from the local authorities but to no avail.
Both, however, are lamenting on how their catch have dwindled by more than 20 per cent following the soil surveys.
They also shared how their fishing nets have been damaged by the steel beams, which they claim are left by the workers after completing their surveys.
As Penangites and ratepayers, Rosli, Ismail and the hundreds of other fishermen, whose lives solely depend on the sea, have every right to an answer — a definite answer, that is.
On Thursday, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, when pressed for an answer, said that there was no reclamation project planned off the coastline of Batu Maung for now, but did not rule out the possibility of having one in the future.
Less than 24 hours later, state Local Government Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow, who was also asked on the same issue, confirmed that soil and hydro testing works were ongoing at the seabed off the Batu Maung coastline, leading to potential big-scale reclamation works in the area.
So now, whose words are Rosli, Ismail, the hundreds of other fishermen and Penangites, in general, are suppose to believe?
Why is there confusing and flip-flop answers from Lim and Chow, despite both being in the same state administration?
Lim has always bragged about his CAT (competency, accountable and transparent) government, but this latest episode sings a different tune altogether.
There have been countless calls from various quarters for the state to come clean on the potential reclamation project.
The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) has urged Lim to announce the purpose of works, which is being carried out by a company, to the people.
CAP is concerned and believes that if there is indeed a reclamation project slated for implementation in the area, it will affect the environment, lives and livelihood of the local fishing community there.
The non-governmental organisation strongly objects to a coastal reclamation project in the area and urges the state government to reject any such idea that is proposed to them.
Penang Federal Action Council chairman Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Osman says Penangites have every right to know what is happening in the area, especially if it is going to have an impact on their lives.
It will be interesting to see how the issue will be debated at the state assembly session, which resumes today until Friday. In fact, there are many issues which the current administration still owes the people an explanation during this assembly session. Mind you, these are not new issues but old ones, which have not been dealt with promptly.
Over on the mainland, quarry activities have been affecting the lives of thousands of people as well as polluting several rivers, both of which warranted Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar to comment on the situation.
Over on the island, hillslope development projects have caused massive flooding in recent months. There are also cases of illegal land clearing as well as traffic congestion and housing concerns.
Penangites are really hoping this time around that Lim’s administration will fully utilise the state assembly to answer all these bread-and-butter issues instead of harping on national ones.
Lim’s administration should put its own house in order first before telling others what to do.
The writer is NST’s Penang bureau chief
No wonder some 1,000 fishermen, whose fishing grounds in the sea have been “encroached” on for soil surveys, are not at all amused with the DAP-led state government's inapt silence on the matter.
During a visit to Permatang Damar Laut and Teluk Kumbar recently, the fishing community there claimed they are kept in the dark on the sea works and demanded answers from the state authorities.
All they know is that people have been going out to sea frequently over the past two months to conduct soil testing and several steel beams have been erected in the water between 2km and 4km from shore.
Rumours are going around that the sea will be reclaimed, among others, for expansion of the airport runway, a rail project, a coastal highway or even a holiday resort.
Fishermen Rosli Yusoff, 58, and Mohd Ismail Ahmad, 54, who head the Sungai Batu fishermen community, say they have sought information from the local authorities but to no avail.
Both, however, are lamenting on how their catch have dwindled by more than 20 per cent following the soil surveys.
They also shared how their fishing nets have been damaged by the steel beams, which they claim are left by the workers after completing their surveys.
As Penangites and ratepayers, Rosli, Ismail and the hundreds of other fishermen, whose lives solely depend on the sea, have every right to an answer — a definite answer, that is.
On Thursday, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, when pressed for an answer, said that there was no reclamation project planned off the coastline of Batu Maung for now, but did not rule out the possibility of having one in the future.
Less than 24 hours later, state Local Government Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow, who was also asked on the same issue, confirmed that soil and hydro testing works were ongoing at the seabed off the Batu Maung coastline, leading to potential big-scale reclamation works in the area.
So now, whose words are Rosli, Ismail, the hundreds of other fishermen and Penangites, in general, are suppose to believe?
Why is there confusing and flip-flop answers from Lim and Chow, despite both being in the same state administration?
Lim has always bragged about his CAT (competency, accountable and transparent) government, but this latest episode sings a different tune altogether.
There have been countless calls from various quarters for the state to come clean on the potential reclamation project.
The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) has urged Lim to announce the purpose of works, which is being carried out by a company, to the people.
CAP is concerned and believes that if there is indeed a reclamation project slated for implementation in the area, it will affect the environment, lives and livelihood of the local fishing community there.
The non-governmental organisation strongly objects to a coastal reclamation project in the area and urges the state government to reject any such idea that is proposed to them.
Penang Federal Action Council chairman Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Osman says Penangites have every right to know what is happening in the area, especially if it is going to have an impact on their lives.
It will be interesting to see how the issue will be debated at the state assembly session, which resumes today until Friday. In fact, there are many issues which the current administration still owes the people an explanation during this assembly session. Mind you, these are not new issues but old ones, which have not been dealt with promptly.
Over on the mainland, quarry activities have been affecting the lives of thousands of people as well as polluting several rivers, both of which warranted Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar to comment on the situation.
Over on the island, hillslope development projects have caused massive flooding in recent months. There are also cases of illegal land clearing as well as traffic congestion and housing concerns.
Penangites are really hoping this time around that Lim’s administration will fully utilise the state assembly to answer all these bread-and-butter issues instead of harping on national ones.
Lim’s administration should put its own house in order first before telling others what to do.
The writer is NST’s Penang bureau chief
The fishing communities of Permatang Damar Laut and Teluk Kumbar are anxious to know if there will be massive sea reclamation works after soil surveys are carried out off the coast.
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