I fail to understand why Penangites continue to fight for their right to live in a rut.

Have they decided that traffic congestion is fine, and that breathing in toxic fumes from vehicles is healthy? They would rather sacrifice time, convenience and comfort to make a point made in a skewed sense.

Do they want Penang to become a ghost city? Today, the once-buzzing cities of Dayton, Buffalo and Pittsburg are ghost cities, with no will to build infrastructure or create jobs.

First the critics were against the LRT, then the highways, and now, reclamation. The initial complaint was over the use of taxpayers’ money. The state then came up with a plan to build the LRT and highways through revenue earned from reclamation. That, too, is not acceptable.

If Penang is to be compared to Marina Bay in Singapore, that too is outrageous because this group has decided to continue to exist in a vacuum.

I see groups of people emerging to fight for their right to speak with no consideration for others who might want a better life in Penang. The state’s silence has been bizarre at times, and I wonder whether the injustice from the loud ones has detracted the resolve of the state.

I am glad we didn’t have such pessimists in the Klang Valley when we decided to put the first MRT in place, and the second to come soon, much to our delight. The MRT is a blessing and only those whose lives have been transformed by the facility will know what it means.

I have been reading the protests from various factions in Penang against the state’s effort to bring some hope to Penang which is on the brink of a breakdown.

Of late, fishermen have been protesting, too, against the reclamation. It is like everyone wants a piece of the limelight.

We are moving towards technology and the digital age. Do these fishermen think they will be able to withstand the onslaught of modernisation? They will find themselves in a quandary and they will be phased out in no time, regardless.

Yes, we do need fish on our dining table but when the bigger players come to the fore with modern facilities to bring in 10 times more catch in half the time and cost, will the traditional fishermen be able to survive?

The wise thing to do would be to negotiate with the state so that they can move with the times and be given support and facilities to survive this natural evolution of time.

Some business owners told me they haven’t been able to attract young talents to work in Penang as it is not happening enough.

Agreed, Penangites do not want to grow like Kuala Lumpur or Singapore, but do they wish Penang to be listed among cities that have become extinct?

What is my interest in Penang? I am the occasional tourist, a regular visitor and former resident of Penang.

I wasn’t born in Penang but I was raised there. When in Penang, I used to feel the cosiness of a mother’s embrace.

I must say of late, however, that the feeling has been replaced with the curse of the city’s crawl. The congestion on major roads in and out of George Town is mentally exhausting and emotionally draining.

The world is rapidly urbanising and the UN predicts that the number of people living in cities could double by 2050 to 6.5 billion.

It is no secret that the development of cities increases innovation and encourages ideas. The rise in new professions is essential to the growth of cities and global innovation. Development of ideas cannot be done in isolation.

When Penang is taken to new heights, its prosperity will be enjoyed by all, including the fishermen and the emerging “Martians” who seem to believe that the island will sink and end with the emergence of highways and rail networks.

Nisha Sharma is an FMT reader.

The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.