The clearing work of George Town's remaining mangrove tract near the Koay clan jetty is a result of a poor city development plan and lack of emphasis on the environment in state policies.

Assoc Prof Mohamed Talhan Idrus from the School of Housing Building and Planning, Universiti Sains Malaysia said ignorance and negligence of policy makers and relevant authorities on the ecological importance of an urban greenery has led to the destruction.

"Indeed, the lack of understanding on the importance in conserving and preserving existing green lungs in city areas had turned many mangrove tracts in the state into dumping grounds over the years," he added.

He said this in a press statement when commenting on the Penang government's firm decision to clear the mangrove tract near the Koay clan jetty to pave the way for the development of a new township.

Since last month, the State Wildlife Department had started to relocate nearly 200 endangered black-crowned night herons and other migratory birds from the mangrove area to the State National Park.

This is to make way for the developer to clear the mangrove area, the only remaining one in the inner city of George Town, which was originally a mangrove area.

In the process, alleged the Support Koay Jetty and Mangrove Action Group, the department had killed many birds and their hatchlings as well as many nests have been destroyed.

The support group, comprising the Penang Tourist 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), has been the main opponent of the project.

Despite the group's unrelenting protests, the Penang government is firm and adamant in clearing the mangrove tract and carrying out its development plan.

Environmental education

Mohamed said state policy makers had failed to appreciate that the mangrove tract was a practical outdoor laboratory for effective environment education and at the same time can be utilised to generate community-based tourism.

He said conservation of the mangrove tract would be in accordance with the spirit of Agenda 21 of the Rio Summit.

"Sadly though, short term commercial gain has outweighed the long term economic, education and environmental benefits of the mangrove tract," he said.

The mangrove and Koay clan jetty site is part of a 10ha area earmarked for a grand project to turn the area, which also encompasses the Noordin Street Ghaut fire site, Prangin estate and Peng Aun Chinese clan jetty, into a new commercial-cum-housing and transport hub at the south-eastern part of the city.

Among other things, the new township will feature 2,200 high-rise residential units, commercial lots and a transportation hub that includes a monorail link to Butterworth.

The grand project is 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.

Not too late

In another statement, group coordinator Joann Khaw called on the state government to refrain from clearing the mangrove area and killing the birds, and review its proposed development plan.

She said the clearing of the mangrove tract had destroyed a very unique educational and tourism product in the inner city.

"Its not too late to stop the destruction and preserve the mangrove tract," she said.

The group wants the mangrove and Koay jetty turned into "a world class heritage and nature park" as part of the new township plan.

Koay and Peng Aun jetties are located along with another six Chinese clan jetties in the Weld Quay area. Unlike Koay and Peng Aun, the other jetties - Lim, Chew, Tan, Lee, New

and Yeoh - have been earmarked within the heritage zone demarcated in George Town and will be preserved.

Besides the group and local academicians, foreign academicians, nature and heritage lovers have frequently called on the state government to implement a comprehensive plan to transform the whole area into an international hub for eco-tourism, marine, cultural and heritage park and research centre.

ATHI VEERANGGAN is malaysiakini 's Penang-based stringer.