KUALA LUMPUR: Gerakan deputy president Oh Tong Keong has slammed the Penang government over its insistence on going ahead with the controversial Penang South Island (PSI) reclamation project.
This, he said, was despite objections from the fishing community and environmental groups.
In a statement today, Oh said the sediment control plan could cause ecological damage in the southern part of the state.
He also noted that the continuation of the plan raises questions, as only nine fishermen units were given assistance.
"The State Secretary Datuk Mohd Sayuthi Bakar stressed that even though the scope of the project has been reduced, the government will still honour its promise to the nine fishermen units.
"However, defending fishermen's rights is the government's responsibility. Why is this being made a requirement to support the project?
"It also raised some questions about whether only those who support PSI are entitled to receive government assistance."
Oh also said the PSI could only be cancelled if the state administration changes after the state election on Aug 12.
"Hence, the people (of Penang) must teach them a lesson and vote for Perikatan Nasional. If they do not gain two-thirds of the seats, only then there is a possibility the project will be cancelled."
Earlier this week, the Penang government said it would keep its promises relating to the project to the nine fishermen units under Phase One and Phase Two of the Social Impact Management Plan (SIMP).
At the same time, Sayuthi had said the assistance would be given to qualified fishermen even though the project will only proceed with Silicon Island.
PSI initially involved the development of three artificial islands, with an area of 1,800ha, in the waters off Permatang Damar Laut, near Bayan Lepas.
However, the project received objections from the fishing community and environmental non-governmental organisations in the state because it was alleged that the project would damage the marine ecosystem in the area.