The Penang Government is set to demolish the Koay Jetty and a nearby mangrove area in George Town on the island to make way for a new project.

Last month, State Housing, Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee chairperson Syed Amerrudin Syed Ahmad said the state government would demolish the Koay Jetty, the nearby Peng Aun Jetty and clear the mangrove swamps to develop a residential-cum-commercial and transportation hub for Weld Quay area in the city.

It's part of the state government's efforts to rejuvenate George Town, which has rapidly turned into a "ghost city" since the Control of Rent (Repeal) Act 1997 was enforced on Sept 1 that year.

Housing and commercial projects are badly needed to rekindle its liveliness, he stressed.

At present Koay and Peng Aun jetties have about 50 houses and 350 residents.

The state government has assured that each affected house owner would be compensated with a free housing unit while tenants would be offered a unit each at a special price when the area had been re-built.

As in many similar projects in the past, several groups, including nature, heritage lovers and, even, tour operators, are opposing the project.

They have grouped together under an umbrella body, Preserve Koay Jetty Support Group, and called on the project proponent to reinvent and refocus its plan, and preserve Koay Jetty's heritage value and conserve the mangrove area.

Cultural significance

The group comprises Penang Tourists Guides Association, Malaysian Travel Trade Association Penang Chapter, Penang Heritage Trust (PHT), Baiqi Koay Cultural Revitalisation Ad-Hoc Joint Committee, Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) Penang Branch and Malaysian Chinese Muslim Association (MCMA).

Booklets published by the Penang Heritage Trust, which has always championed the cause to preserve Chinese heritage landmarks on the island, emphasises that Koay Jetty had a unique history and cultural significance as the remaining enclave of the Chinese Hui's descendants in northern Peninsular Malaysia.

A different clan established Peng Aun Jetty settlement shortly after Koay Jetty was set up.

Both jetties are situated in a row of eight early Chinese clan jetty settlements located between the ferry terminal and Lebuh Noordin flat.

The other jetties of Lim, Chew, Tan, Lee, New and Yeoh clans have been earmarked within the heritage zone demarcated in George Town and will be preserved.

"How is it that the state government could preserve six jetties, not the other two? Koay Jetty has a strong historical background," queried the support group coordinator Joanne Khaw.

MNS Penang chairperson D Kanda Kumar said the mangrove was the last surviving eastern coastline mangrove swamp in George Town, which was originally a city of mangroves.

"Virtually all have disappeared due to development and reclamation. The Koay Jetty mangrove is the last healthy remaining mangrove and is home to 30 species of birds, including northern migratory birds, a vast majority of which is protected under the Malaysian Wildlife Act.

"Koay Jetty mangrove is important for the balance in the eco-system in the area, besides reflecting the originality of George Town," Kanda Kumar added.

Joann Khaw, a licenced tour guide, said over the years, the jetties have been fascinating architectural subjects for heritage researchers, both local and from abroad.

Charcoal trade

History revealed that Arab traders married Chinese women of Han clan and settled along the coastal area of Fujian in southeast China during the 14th century Yuan Dynasty. Subsequently, the Arab-Chinese community developed a Muslim enclave in Baiqi area called Hui in China today and adopted the surname `Koay.'

Due to devastating effects of civil wars and natural disasters between the17th and early 20th centuries, many Baiqi Koays were forced to seek refuge in other countries.

Many arrived in Penang island in the 19th century and settled along the east coast shore. Their main trade then was making charcoal, which was sold locally and used in the barter trader as well.

In 1960's, Baiqi Koays established a settlement known as the Koay Jetty.

As the threat to demolish the historical jetty is fast becoming real, the support group stepped up its campaign by launching a state-wide signature campaign last week.

Baiqi Koay cultural revitalisation ad-hoc joint committee chairperson Koay Teng Hai said the aim is to collect "as many signatures as possible and to gather public support for the cause."

Next month the committee will organise a seminar on the preservation of the Koay Jetty to drum up public support and hopefully, change the mind of government leaders on the project.

ATHI VEERANGGAN is malaysiakini 's Penang-based stringer