Jobs don't drop from the sky #7

Our youth unemployment rate has been rising every year in the past 5 years, from 11% in 2016 to 11.72% last year.

Are jobs being produced as fast as our youths grow up?

Without jobs, what's our youths' future? Without jobs, how to start a family? Without jobs, how to care for aging parents?

These are the questions that Hafiz discussed with me.

Hafiz is a graduate with a degree in finance. Most of his cohorts have left Penang to work in KL.

"Kawan-kawan struggle cari kerja di Penang, dan memang banyak yang pi KL," he said.

Although Hafiz wanted to join them, he as the eldest among his siblings had stay back to care for the family.

Unable to get a suitable permanent job, Hafiz ended up as a contract worker for several years.

When the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) had job openings, Hafiz applied and got his first stable permanent job.

After working for 10 months, Hafiz has saved enough to get married. He and his wife are expecting their first child now.

Just before Raya this year, Hafiz bought a car in preparation for the arrival of the baby.

Hafiz can now provide for his parents, relieve the burden of his father who is a lorry driver, and help to finance his sister's nursing course.

Groups like Penang Forum and Sahabat Alam Malaysia are lobbying to cancel PSR, and by doing so threatening the livelihood of young people like Hafiz's.

"Kalau PSR cancel, saya akan susah dapat pekerjaan. Tambah lagi situasi pandemik sekarang, akan hadapi masalah," said Hafiz.

These anti-PSR NGOs are selfish and cruel.

They don't have practical solution to solve youth unemployment problem, yet they are lobbying to kill off projects that provide jobs to our youths.

Note: This 'Jobs don't drop from the sky' series uncovers real life stories of how actual Penangites from all walks of life are benefiting from the Penang South Reclamation project.

#1 : Abang Sam (former fisherman)

#2 : Pakcik Ismail & Mat (former fishermen)

#3 : Nina (young graduate with a degree in agricultural science)

#4 : Razali (fisherman)

#5 : Idris & Adam (fishermen)

#6 : Jan (young graduate with a degree in quantity surveying)

Anti-PSR NGOs must stop eliminating jobs in Penang

AnakPinang Statement (5 June 2021)

We at AnakPinang are concerned over the statements made by Sahabat Alam Malaysia, Tanjong Bunga Residents Association, Penang Forum, Consumer's Association of Penang, Agora Society Malaysia, and Pen Mutiara that are putting the livelihood of Penangites at risk.[1]

Their demand for the cancellation of the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project is regrettable since that would in effect lead to the dismissal of existing jobs, affecting businesses, and eliminating thousands of potential employments for the people in Penang.

As previously reported, the construction work of the PSR will generate 5,000 jobs in the immediate three years period.[2] This will provide significant monetary inflow into Penang’s economy.

PSR sustains employment in Penang

AnakPinang welcomes this timely stimulus provided by the PSR especially when many Penangites are either retrenched, taking pay cut, or required to take no-pay-leaves during the present Covid-19 crisis.

In the past one and a half year, we have seen the closure of the Equatorial Hotel, the ‘hibernation’ of Entopia Butterfly Farm, and the offering of voluntary separation scheme in many Penang companies.

When many Penangites are struggling to make a living, these NGOs are adding salt to wound by asking for the end of PSR which will lead to more job termination.

These anti-development NGOs and activists have a track record of lobbying for the cancellation of projects, such as the redevelopment of Penang International Sports Arena (PISA) into SPICE Convention Centre and the building of ESCAPE Theme Park.[3]

Right now, they are opposing the PSR and threatening the livelihood of all the employees who are working on the project.

Among the staff members are young local graduates who do not need to leave their family in Penang to work in other states, and local fishermen who can now have a stable monthly income and enjoy the benefits of retirement fund – which they otherwise did not have – without risking their life to work in the sea.

The cancellation of the PSR would mean the termination of these employment, which will be very unfortunate during the current pandemic crisis. The action of these NGOs is callous and cruel.

If they care for the well-being of the people working on the PSR project, these anti-PSR groups should stop lobbying for its termination which would further eliminate jobs in Penang and remove the benefits for the fishermen.

‘Phantom NGOs’

Among these six anti-PSR groups mentioned above, there are those formed by the same individuals. For instance, Meenakshi Raman is the president of Sahabat Alam Malaysia, the chairperson of Tanjung Bunga Residents Association, member of Penang Forum, and legal advisor to Consumer's Association of Penang.

This is one person lobbying under four different groups, giving the public a false impression of widespread support. It is just one of many tactics taken by these individuals to mislead the public. Whether or not this is ethical, we leave to the public to decide.

If the same people vote under different names, we would brand them ‘phantom voters’. But isn’t the action of one individual duplicating his/her action under different groups creating ‘phantom NGOs’?

Furthermore, these anti-development groups always exaggerate negative impact of PSR to mislead the public. For instance, they repeatedly claim that the implementation of PSR will threaten Penang’s food security – even though less than 20% of fishing boats work at the PSR area.[4]

Moreover, the fishery of Penang’s south contributes only 4% to the state’s seafood output, while Penang contributes only 3% to the country’s total.[5] Penang south’s fishery accounts for less than 1% of the nation’s entire output. Penang south is not “the golden zone” for fishery as falsely claimed by Penang Forum spokesperson, Khoo Salma.[6]

Therefore, we implore these anti-development NGOs to stop misleading the public with exaggerated claims to lobby for project cancellation that will lead to jobs elimination.

Development on mainland

These groups’ alternative solution for PSR is to shift industrial development to Seberang Perai, claiming there is more land available there. This is factually wrong and can only be said by those who are ignorant of mainland geography.

Currently, nine out of the ten industrial parks and zones in Penang are located on the mainland. The nine are at Mak Mandin, Perai, Seberang Jaya, Bukit Tengah, Bukit Minyak, Penang Science Park, Penang Science Park North, Batu Kawan Industrial Park 1 and Batu Kawan Industrial Park 2. The one on the island is Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone. The total industrial area on mainland is several times larger than on the island.

The fact is that there is not much land for industrial development in Seberang Perai. Most flatland have been developed or used for agriculture. Most flatland have been developed or used for agriculture. As reported previously, the 1,173ha of industrial land allocated in Batu Kawan was left only with 80ha in 2019.

The State Government’s effort to acquire more private land has led to legal entanglement with land owner, with the latest case involving Sime Darby.[7] Such matter may take years to settle while nothing can be done for development.

Those NGOs may believe they are offering alternative solution to PSR when in reality they are unrealistic and uninformed of the facts.

The NGOs’ environmental excuse to cancel PSR and shift development to the mainland is inconsistent as there will also be environmental impact on Seberang Perai.

Given its larger area size, the mainland’s industrial impact to the environment is already more extensive than the island. Increasing industrialisation at Seberang Perai will only make it more extensive compared to the island. So those NGOs’ excuse for shifting industrial development to mainland to avoid environmental impact is delusional.

PSR’s environmental impact can be mitigated and the natural surrounding can be rejuvenated through offset programmes which will lead to the creation of a balanced and more resilient ecosystem for humans and nature. Real environmental work should be based on facts, not on delusions as displayed by the six groups.

ANAKPINANG MEMBERS

Timothy Tye, Zulfadzli Halim, Ling Chee Seng, Rodney Fong, Hellena Ayu, Magima Raj Pragasam, Joshua Woo, Mohd Nasarudin Sultan, Nicole Tan Bee Cha

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[1]https://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/574291, https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/06/03/is-reclamation-worth-it-with-wfh-on-the-rise-asks-penang-group, https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/05/21/its-lose-lose-for-penang-in-psr-privatisation-plan-says-economist,  https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/06/02/groups-back-nurul-izzahs-call-to-scrap-psr, https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/06/04/speak-to-fisherfolk-on-benefits-of-psr-group-tells-2-mps, https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/29690/psi-threatens-penangs-environment-and-fishing-coastal-communities-associations

[2]https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/05/17/project-to-create-15k-jobs

[3]https://aliran.com/coalitions/penang-forum/two-councillors-break-ranks-to-oppose-mppp-budget/, https://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/letters/2011/11/22/scrap-the-escape-park/ 

[4]https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2019/10/24/under-20pc-of-boats-still-fish-in-site-marked-for-reclamation-says-penang-e/1803276

[5]https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/23919/get-your-facts-right-in-slamming-psr-project-ex-councillor-tells-pas and Lembaga Kemajuan Ikan Malaysia, Laporan Risikan Pasaran 2019, page 12.

[6]https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/478867

[7]https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/sime-darby-plantations-granted-leave-challenge-penang-land-grab

Jobs don't drop from the sky #6

Armchair academicians, Penang Forum, Consumers’ Association of Penang, Sahabat Alam Malaysia, and big-name politicians are calling for the cancellation of the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project.

What they are really doing is destroying jobs in Penang. They are eliminating the possibility for young Penangites to have a future here.

Academicians, activists, and politicians are supposed to help people, but these anti-PSR groups prefer to starve families. Sad.

That was what came to mind when I spoke to Jan.

When Jan graduated from USM, her seniors told her that the job market in Penang was not good. Some of her coursemates had to do food delivery.

So, Jan – the only child – had to leave her widowed mother in Penang to go to KL to look for work. Her mother wasn’t working, Jan had to support her.

Indeed, Jan found a job in KL. Although she was employed there, she was often worried about her mother who was alone in Penang.

That’s why Jan is grateful for her current work in PSR.

“Really appreciate the PSR project – I can come back to Penang, I can take care of my mom,” Jan said.

However, just as Jan is settling back in Penang to take care of her widowed mother, the anti-PSR groups are calling for the PSR to be scrapped.

Not only the anti-PSR groups are a threat to Penang’s economy and future, after listening to Jan, I’m more convinced that they are job-destroyers too.

Note: This 'Jobs don't drop from the sky' series uncovers real life stories of how actual Penangites from all walks of life are benefiting from the Penang South Reclamation project.

#1 : Abang Sam (former fisherman)

#2 : Pakcik Ismail & Mat (former fishermen)

#3 : Nina (young graduate with a degree in agricultural science)

#4 : Razali (fisherman)

#5 : Idris & Adam (fishermen)

Jobs don't drop from the sky #5

I will continue to write about real Penangites whose life has been changed for the better because of Penang South Reclamation (PSR).

These Penangites are not big-name politicians, their story seldom gets highlighted.

Nonetheless, they are Penangites who can now earn a decent living for their family due to the project. Therefore, I think their story deserved to be told.

Pak Idris and his grandson, Adam are such Penangites.

Idris, 66 years old, has worked as a fisherman for over five decades. Adam, now 23, had been helping his grandpa since his teens.

Adam shared about an incident when he was 18 years old working in the sea with his grandpa.

That day they met with a thunderstorm. Huge waves were hitting their boat. Idris used all his strength to steer the boat to safety, against the strong currents until the vessel almost broke into two.

“Tok perlu lawan sampai bot terangkat tinggi, hampir patah dua." Adam said.

“Masa tu, kalau hanyut di laut, pun hanyut lah,” Idris added.

Fortunately, they escaped.

Adam has stopped becoming a fisherman after he was hired to work in the PSR project last year, when Covid-19 started.

Adam is now gainfully employed, he no longer needs to go to the sea. He can now have a stable income, EPF, and ability to get loan from bank.

“Selepas kerja untuk PSR, boleh simpan duit. Dulu hutang bank pun tak boleh. Sekarang boleh beli motor, boleh sewa rumah sendiri,” Adam said.

Adam has just recently engaged with his fiancée.

When asked for his view about Adam’s employment in PSR, Pak Idris said, “Bangga, kita pun seronok kalau cucu semua besar kerja di PSR.”

Fishermen have to risk their life just to earn enough to go through the day, while big-name politicians and Penang Forum spokepersons are churning out anti-PSR statement in the comfort of their air-con office, seated on armchair.

Politicians and Penang Forum can talk theory about Penang doesn’t need PSR during Covid-19. But it is precisely during these trying times like now that PSR is providing jobs to people like Adam who need them the most.

Jobs don’t drop from the sky. If PSR is cancelled, Adam would have to go back to the sea while politicians and Penang Forum continue to live their life as usual.

Note: This 'Jobs don't drop from the sky' series uncovers real life stories of how actual Penangites from all walks of life are benefiting from the Penang South Reclamation project.

#1 : Abang Sam (former fisherman)

#2 : Pakcik Ismail & Mat (former fishermen)

#3 : Nina (young graduate with a degree in agricultural science)

#4 : Razali (fisherman)