Do not be mesmerised by the sweet talk about the grandiose “development” that will destroy forever the rich source of the fish that you throng the markets to buy daily, Ravinder Singh writes.
Penang transport and infrastructure committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari, in defending the “Penang South Reclamation” project, said it is a critical project for the state’s future.
So, destroying a thriving, self-sustaining, age-old food producing industry and replacing it with manufacturing industries – a future that is not guaranteed, and does not ensure food security – is considered “critical” for the state’s survival.
What sort of strange thinking is this? What could be more critical than food security for the future growing population in a world where current food supplies are already unable to give every human on earth three decent meals a day?
Factories come and go. They are mercenaries looking for their own gains. Their products are not real necessities, but mostly for satisfying artificially created “wants” by the factory owners. People can survive without factory-produced products, but they cannot survive without nutritious food on the table.
That factories provide jobs for a large number of people is not a valid reason to destroy a long-established, self-sustaining fresh seafood producing industry in the south of Penang island.
Is the Penang government blind and deaf to the tragedies that have befallen similar grandiose projects in Malacca, Dubai and elsewhere?
Seafood provides cheap protein for a large number of people – and the state authorities have the cheek to say it is critical to destroy the inshore fishing fields in the south of Penang?
Dear Penangites, do not be mesmerised by the sweet talk and beautiful illustrations of the grandiose “development” that will destroy forever the rich source of the fish that you throng the markets to buy daily.
Do you want to be able to buy fish and other seafood at reasonable prices – or at exorbitant prices when the supply drops drastically due to the reclamation works?
Politicians come and go. They can make all the wrong decisions and not be accountable for them. Look at the number of white elephants around, the failed projects. They just want to mesmerise people to get their votes.
Bury the Penang South Reclamation project – not the rich fishing grounds.
Source: themalaysianinsight.com
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
