NGOs ask for proof of 4,733 engagement sessions on PSR

Several NGOs have questioned a claim from the Penang government that 4,733 engagement sessions have been held with fishermen since 2016 on the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project.

Khoo Salma Nasution of the Penang Forum' said today that it is "highly improbable and most likely impossible" that the claim is true based on simple mathematics and logic.

"To have conducted 4,733 sessions in a span of four years would require an average of 3.25 sessions on a daily basis for 1,460 days straight, including weekends and public holidays," she said in a statement.

At least 45 NGOs have signed a petition demanding for the project to be cancelled.

Salma was responding to a series of tweets by Penang exco Dr Afif Bahardin on Sunday that 4,733 engagements on the PSR have been organised with stakeholders.

Afif, who heads the PSR Fishermen Taskforce, issued the tweets after PKR president and Anwar Ibrahim met with the community in Bayan Lepas last Saturday.

The PKR president expressed sympathy and solidarity with the fishermen, and scheduled a meeting on the issue with Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.

However, Anwar was non-committal at the meeting, earning him the label "hypocrite seeking publicity" by PAS, while Gerakan dismissed the meeting as a "sandiwara (drama)."

'Read the EIA report'

When contacted, Afif said Salma should read the project's environmental impact assessment report, which obtained federal approval on July 4. He added that further explanation would be provided tomorrow.

According to Salma, the NGOs have not heard of any government agency nor any Penang exco, including Afif, conducting such a marathon of engagement sessions.

They demand that Afif provide an explanation regarding his claim, and provide information and proof that such engagements were held.

"We cannot allow such blatant claims to be used as justifications by the state government to bulldoze through the PSR and to disregard the concerns and opposition by various parties, including local fishermen, urban Penangites and civil society," she said.

"If what Afif claims is really true, he should have no trouble providing us with details of the 4,733 engagements held, including times, dates, venues and those who were invited and/or attended such engagements."

Salma wants Afif (photo) to make public the details of what went on during the 4,733 engagements as the issue is of public interest.

She also urged him to remember that the chief minister had previously said that statistics should not be "plucked from the sky."

"It would be a disgrace if a senior member of the Penang government such as Afif had actually done what Chow had advised other parties not to do," she said.

Salma also strongly urged Afif to respond to her remarks "in the spirit of Penang’s Competency, Accountability and Transparency policy".

She said this was to dispel doubts surrounding his competency in providing valid and accurate information on the engagement sessions.

"It will also dispel doubts about the lack of transparency in which the state government operates where the issue of PSR is concerned."

Salma's queries come after Penang Fishermen Association chairperson Nazri Ahmad said that their representatives only met Chow on May 31 to submit a list of demands for ex-gratia payment.

Chow has issued a directive to the task force to start discussions with the fishermen after 200 of them marched to Parliament to protest the PSR on July 11.

PSR involves the creation of three artificial islands which would be developed and partially sold to finance the Penang Transport Master Plan, and will be implemented by delivery partner SRS Consortium.

Penang reveals 72 conditions set by DOE for PSR

4,733 sessions? We only met CM once, says fishermen association

Reezal wants minister to say 'No' to Penang reclamation project

Salahuddin wants Penang to compensate fishermen affected by PSR