GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government has denied claims by a group of fishermen from the Teluk Kumbar coast that their shacks and landing areas will be cleared for the proposed reclamation of the three islands.
Bayan Lepas assemblyman Azrul Mahathir Abd Aziz said the claim that over 200 shacks and barns would be cleared was false.
In a statement, he said the government had only issued notices regarding 17 structures along Sungai Teluk Kumbar, where the state intends to implement a flood mitigation project (FMP).
On Wednesday, a group of coastal fishermen claimed they had received letters from the land office to clear their illegally-built structures along the coast by the end of the month.
Although no reason was stated in the letter, the group said it was likely to make way for the proposed island project.
Azrul said the FMP has to begin next month to resolve a recurring flash floods problem in Teluk Kumbar.
He added that the project would take two years to complete at a cost of RM10 million borne by the federal government.
The assemblymen said the project would benefit some 5,000 settlers there, with the fishermen’s boat docking area to be moved away from the river mouth.