Speculation is rife that the Penang Southern Fishermen’s Association (PSFA) intends to boycott the Transport Master Plan (TMP) briefing by the state government and SRS Consortium, the project delivery partner.

The dialogue with the fisherfolk was supposed to be held yesterday but has now postponed to Sunday.

The fishing community has expressed concern over the project as the state has admitted that about 900 fishermen in 10 villages would be affected by this mega-development, which spans 50 years.

State executive councillor Abdul Malik Kassim said the rescheduling of the dialogue to Sunday has nothing to do with speculation that the fisherfolk would the boycott the session.

Yesterday, state officials met with nine members of the village development and security committees (JKKK) from the areas covering Teluk Tempoyak (in Batu Maung) and Gertak Sanggul (in Bayan Lepas).

Malik said the JKKK members were briefed on the project first as they are part of the state government and their input was necessary before the dialogue is held with the fisherfolk.

He said the JKKK areas would also be directly affected by the TMP, which will see land reclamation, including the creation of two artificial islands along the southern post.

The state government and SRS Consortium will be meeting with more JKKK members in the days to come, the PKR Batu Maung assemblyperson added.

Malik also questioned the motive of the fisherfolk to boycott the dialogue session, as reported by Berita Harian on Jan 9 under the headline ‘Nelayan boikot perbincagan tambak laut’ (Fishermen to boycott discussion on sea reclamation).

In the report, PSFA chairperson Arshad Omar is quoted as saying that the state government was not serious in engaging with the fisherfolk on the project as ‘middle persons’ were used to communicate with them.

NGOs too have raised alarm bells over the ambitious RM27 billion TMP - including the construction of three highways and an undersea tunnel linking the island with Butterworth - as the project involves sea reclamation in the south, allegedly covering 4,100 acres.

However, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has defended the reclamation works, saying it would pay for the TMP, which would see the island and mainland connected via light transit rail, trams, public buses and water taxis.

'Do they have a vested interest?'

“Why should they boycott? If you ask me, I’d say they want to boycott for the sake of boycotting,” Malik told a press conference held after the two-hour session with the JKKK members in Bayan Lepas yesterday evening.

“Earlier, they complained of not being consulted or informed about the project.

“Now that we are carrying out the dialogue, why do they wish to boycott? Is it because they have a vested interest?” Malik asked.

Asked if they were politically incited to do so, he replied, “It is possible.”

Malik reiterated his stand that the TMP would benefit Penangites in two ways: resolving the traffic congestion that has plagued the island for decades and help the state move forward in terms of investment, economy and job opportunities.

He urged the leaders of the fisherfolk associations not to stop their members from attending the dialogue sessions if they did not have any political interest.

“Allow them the chance to give their feedback on the project, which will benefit them in the future,” Malik said.