KUALA LUMPUR – The Pulau Pangkor Development Committee is objecting to a proposed 7.75-ha land reclamation project they fear will cause residents to lose homes, besides damage to the environment.
The committee said it represented over 2000 members of the public, including local fishermen, who want the Perak and federal governments to reconsider their Special Area Plan (RKK) for a massive development project comprising shopping centres, duty-free centres and tourist attractions on the island.
“The project will displace long-time residents and disrupt the island’s fishing community, while threatening its unique biodiversity and heritage,” said the organisation in a statement.
“The eviction and reclamation to create new vacant land on Pulau Pangkor for the development of shopping centres, duty-free zones and other unsustainable tourist attractions risks becoming a white elephant.
“These areas, which have long been home to the native Pangkor people, are also centres for fishing activities and seafood processing, for which Pangkor is known.
“Such development will not provide any sustainable benefits to the residents of Pulau Pangkor,” it added.
The Pulau Pangkor RKK was unveiled to locals there in May through a publicity and public participation programme that offered residents the chance to have a say in the island’s development. They were given until June 12 to participate.
While little has been reported on the proposed development, the Construction Plus Asia website in 2022 had an article on a mixed, integrated eco-tourism project described as having five-star hotels, conference and exhibition facilities, and entertainment, all to be “led by environmental considerations”.
Pulau Pangkor was given duty-free status from January 1, 2020 to promote it as a travel destination.
The Pulau Pangkor Development Committee today, however, noted that it was also one of Malaysia’s densest biodiversity zones, home to various endemic flora and fauna species, including the wild Pangkor hornbill and green turtles.
“The development plan contained in the RKK will lead to environmental destruction due to the reclassification of 644.6ha of permanent forest reserve areas on Pulau Pangkor, a reduction of 24.3% for development purposes.
“The forest reserves on Pulau Pangkor, which include the North Pangkor, Sg Pinang and South Pangkor reserves, are unique attractions on the island that are sustainable,” it said.
It said Perak and Putrajaya should not destroy the island’s natural beauty merely to develop it into a “generic tourist centre”.
“It is clear that the RKK proposed is a plan formulated without sufficient consideration of various economic and environmental issues.
“Instead, they should enhance conservation efforts for flora and fauna so that Pulau Pangkor can be developed sustainably.”
Residents should be involved in all development plans at every stage of formulation so that their interests are represented and ill-supported plans can be avoided, the group added. – 6 July 2024.