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)
