Penang’s mega-reclamation project does not jive with Madani principles

The heat is on. This morning CAP held a press conference, as the pressure intensifies for the ecologically damaging project to be scrapped.

The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) appeals to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and the “unity government” to take steps to cancel the wasteful “Penang South Reclamation” project, which will cause irreversible damage to the environment and the fishing community.

CAP welcomes the PM’s recent statement that he had concerns about the reclamation project and that he is prepared to look into the objections to it.

The mega-project will have a devastating impact on the environment, food security, climate, the fishing community and the demography of Penang Island.

This contradicts the Madani (Civil Malaysia) policy framework, one of the pillars of which is to promote sustainable development.

Initially, the DAP-led Penang state government justified the mega-reclamation project to finance the “Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP)” since the then federal government controlled by Barisan Nasional was not supporting it.

The situation has now radically changed: we understand that the unity government is prepared to provide the funds required to finance improvements to the existing transport system to overcome traffic congestion.

We are curious why the Penang state government is adamantly insisting on proceeding with the reclamation project despite its adverse ecological and social impacts.

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Faced with strong criticism of the reclamation project, the state government is now justifying the project by claiming that Penang needs more land for development and creating jobs.

This claim is baseless and contradicted by the reality on the ground. Just across the second bridge in Batu Kawan, over 3,000 acres of land is available for economic growth. It has all the amenities and is close and well connected to the Butterworth port and the Bayan Lepas international airport.

READ MORE: Penang reclamation: At what cost?

The chief minister himself admitted recently that over 12,000 hectares of land in Seberang Perai [mainland Penang] can be used for development.

Also, several industrial estates in Penang are underutilised.

The state should focus on attracting investments there instead of pouring money into the sea for a problematic project.

The mega-reclamation will exacerbate the climate crisis. Implementing the project would need 4,500 acres of the sea, an important carbon sink, to be covered with sand and soil.

Additionally, it will produce 3.2 million tons of carbon emissions per year, in violation of Malaysia’s commitment under the Paris Agreement. Malaysia had undertaken to cut carbon intensity against gross development product (GDP) by 45% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels.

What is so pressing a need that we are prepared to breach an international treaty? Does it benefit the people? Certainly not.

In addition, the total amount of sand needed for the project would be 190 million cubic metres, to be sourced from Penang and Perak waters. This is equivalent to volumes of sand that can fill up 75,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools, further damaging areas from where the sand is mined!

We stress that the project will result in the destruction of an important fisheries area in Penang which provides income for over 3,000 people and their families, and food – fish, prawns, crabs and other marine life – for consumers. 

In fact, in a letter on 25 June 2019, the director general of the Department of Environment advised the Penang state government that the mega-reclamation will “cause permanent and residual impacts on mudflat ecosystems, fishing grounds, turtle landing areas, and some coral reefs in Pulau Rimau… This permanent destruction will have a significant negative impact on fisheries resources, fisheries and the security of national food supply.”

Despite this warning, the environmental impact assessment report for the reclamation project was approved. That speaks volumes about the independence and objectivity of the assessment process.

The three-island project, if successfully implemented, would also bring about a major demographic change, with the local fishing community and those in the poorest 40% segment being displaced to seek shelter in other places.

Their places will be taken over by the local rich and wealthy foreigners from China, Hong Kong and the West. Is favouring both the local and foreign wealthy elite in line with Madani principles?

For all the above reasons, CAP appeals to the PM and the unity government not to support this mega-reclamation project and supply funds and guarantees. 

The estimated RM16bn reclamation cost could be better used to improve the living standards of the poor and marginalised, provide better healthcare and education, and improve traffic mobility.

Politics and cronyism should not be allowed to trump the interests and welfare of our people, social justice and the environment.

Mohideen Abdul Kader is president of the Consumers’ Association of Penang