The Penang government has decided to move all bird nests at the Koay Jetty mangrove area to an existing bird colony near Sungai Kluang at Bayan Bay along the southern coast of the island in a move to pacify nature lovers.

As directed by the state government, the Wildlife Department will transfer the nests by end of the this year before the mangrove area and two Chinese clan jetties, Koay and Peng Aun in inner George Town are demolished to make way for a new township.

State Housing, Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee Chairman Syed Amerrudin Syed Ahmad said the decision to move the bird nests to an existing large mangrove area near Sungai Kluang was to preserve rare species of migratory birds, including black crowned knight-heron, currently inhabiting the Koay Jetty mangrove.

"The state government will exhaust all ways and means to preserve the birds on the island. The wildlife department will move the nests to the Sungai Kluang mangrove area, which is already a home for many migratory birds," he told malaysiakini.

The Bayan Bay mangrove area has long been a home for many migratory birds.

Syed Amerrudin said the policy, which was decided recently, clearly proved that the state government was against killing wildlife as claimed by certain quarters, especially the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS).

The Koay mangrove is home to 30 species of birds, including northern migratory birds, a vast majority of which is protected under the Malaysian Wildlife Act.

The Koay clan jetty mangrove is also the second largest nesting colony, after a huge mangrove area in Parit, Perak, for an estimated 500 resident black crowned knight-heron.

Koay and Peng Aun jetties have been proposed by the state government for demolition to pave the way for a grand plan to turn the coastal area into a new township.

Rejuvenate George Town

The project, which will begin early next year and expected to be ready by late 2007, will turn the area into a new commercial-cum-housing and transport hub at the south-eastern part of the city.

The Penang Island Municipal Council recently approved the project plan which is part of the state government's efforts to rejuvenate George Town, now considered a "ghost town" since the Control of Rent (Repeal) Act 1997 was enforced on Sept 1 that year.

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.

At present Koay and Peng Aun jetties have about 50 houses and 350 residents. The state government has assured each affected house owner that they would be compensated with a free housing unit while tenants would be offered a unit each at a special price when the area is re-built.

The main opponent of the proposed project, the Preserve Koay Jetty Support Group, has constantly called on the Penang government to implement an alternative plan to preserve and develop the area encompassing the eight jetties into "a world class heritage and nature park."

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).

Shabby settlements

MNS Penang chairperson D Kanda Kumar, on the other hand, has constantly called on the state government to preserve the Koay mangrove, which is the last surviving eastern coastline mangrove swamps in George Town.

"Virtually all mangrove areas in the city have disappeared due to rapid development and reclamation. The Koay Jetty mangrove is the last healthy remaining mangrove, encompassing an acre area, in the inner city.

"Koay Jetty mangrove is important for the balance in the eco-system in the area, besides reflecting the originality of George Town, which was once a mangrove city" said Kanda Kumar.

However, Syed Amerrudin pointed out that both Koay and Peng Aun jetties were in shabby condition.

He also noted that several early settlements on the island for Malays in Tanjung Tokong, Batu Uban and Sungai Batu, and for Indians in Teluk Bahang had been demolished to pave way for development.

"Why can't we demolish these jetties, especially when both are in unstable and unhealthy conditions, to pave way for development," he said.

ATHI VEERANGGAN is malaysiakini 's Penang-based stringer.