Say No To Sea Reclamation of Fake Islands Banner.
(Source: Sosialis PSM)

GEORGETOWN – Penang is renowned for its popular street food, pleasant environment, and historical landmarks, but the UNESCO-World-Heritage-bearer is currently undergoing a major southern reclamation expansion that could endanger marine life and the people's livelihood.

The Penang State Government launched the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project in January 2020 as an international design competition in the hopes of attracting developers and investors to their sustainable and economic growth programme.

The competition's winners were Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), Hijjas Kasturi, and Ramboll, who were tasked with designing a master plan that stretches along the southern coast.

In an interview with Andrew Han, one of the environmental activists from Jaringan Ekologi Dan Iklim (JEDI) condemned the competition entirely. They submitted the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), even though the plan has been completed but still tasked to redesign the entirety of the plan which contradicts to the EIA.

Visualisation of The Penang South Reclamation Plan.
(Source: World Landscape Architect (WLA)

Since the southern region is predominantly Malay, this PSR is thought to be politically motivated and socially skewed. When the construction is completed, the population will change. The region is mostly made up of B40s, which would have an effect on those who are struggling to make ends meet.

This is why it is a problem that ventures like this exist, as they only help those who can afford to pay.

“What they are doing right now is a form of social engineering, they would like to change the demographic of the southern region. In the future when the three islands are there, it will introduce a new community too which politically only benefits parties like DAP as this expands their reach,” said Andrew Han when contacted by Berita DIMENSi via Google Meet.

The concept of growth necessitates a compromise that benefits both sides, not just a select group of people. The PSR is unjust because the fishermen — as well as people living in the south — are most at risk if the projects fail or bail out. For those who already live in the city, this raises concerns.

The creation of new communities as a result of this project will only help those in the future when the project is completed, where the fishermen and people living in the current state will face even greater hardships.

Seri Tanjung Pinang (STP) was the earliest example of a reclamation project that happened in the north east of Penang and this has caused fishermen and local communities in the south to change their focus to other occupations. Some people have also moved to the mainland in search of better prospects.

This is how environmentalists have expressed their opposition to the project.

It is inequitable and unequal to those who have been forced to move in order to survive. The government has taken away their way of life and replaced it with a scheme of social reconstruction that forbids them from preserving their heritage and working in their fields.

This has already been proved when the Tanjong Tokong reclamation took place, and seeing it done again in the southern area has sparked a debate between environmentalists and the government.

The building has been halted due to COVID-19, as the government plans to appeal an internal hearing held by the Department of the Environment whether to approve this project based on their newly updated EIA.

“The hearing of the Department of Environment, Putrajaya will be on within July, but the State [Penang] Government shows no care with the appeal and would like to go on with the plan. As an NGO, they should have respected the appeal process and waited for the approval but now they are [Penang Gov] pushing it,” said Andrew Han.

“The media was used for paid advertisements — especially siding with the government — to publish the fishermen’s support for the PSR. They use this as propaganda of fake news to highlight the good side and promises that come after the mega project,” said Andrew Han.

Even if the project fails, the media plays an important role in warning the public that initiatives like these constitute an environmental concern. The government should investigate the project's massive implications, as it will have a significant impact on future generations of southern residents.

Like the article? Share it now!