of Melaka Gateway, however, KAJ retained
its license to continue the deep-sea port
project after being approved by the current
central and state governments. They even
received a high accolade by the federal
government, as the project was deemed
an “iconic development”– one which will
transform the landscape of the historic city
and coastline along the Straits of Malacca.
DIVERGENT OPINIONS
Perspectives understandably differ on this
coastal reclamation project. For some, this
development may create opportunities
for business creation or expansion, but
for many others, especially in the local
community, the changes the project will
bring are viewed much more negatively.
Despite the promise of a luxury integrated
island development for Melaka, the project
has impacted the local fishermen, owing to
the scale of the construction in the Straits.
Local disapproval for Melaka Gateway is
quite visible, despite assurances that the
project will ultimately function not only
as a port, but also as a residential and
commercial area, bringing income and
opportunities to the community.
In July 2018, a peaceful demonstration
was organised by residents of Melaka’s
Portuguese Settlement area, most
of whom were fishermen, to draw
attention to the project’s impact on their
livelihoods. Unsurprisingly, among the
frustrations expressed were that the
reclamation failed to address concerns
and abide by regulations noted in the
Environmental Impact Assessment which
had been carried out prior to the project’s
commencement. Protestors carried coffins
to symbolize the death of the fishermen
affected by the marine reclamation, and
also claimed that the project was started
without any input from the people of the
community. Predictably, the demonstration
was not received very well by those who
were targeted. However, the two parties
have since reached an agreement.
Despite this, it still begs the question of
what justified the initial disregard of rights
for affected communities? According to
the Asian Journal of Environment, History,
and Heritage 2018, coastal reclamation
does affect seafarers, many of whom will
lose their fishery grounds and cockle
spots. When taking this into consideration,
perhaps it is time for us to reassess our
attitudes towards coastal reclamation.
This is an urban phenomenon that’s been
taking place around the country where
capitalizing on coastlines is causing both
displacement and income deprivation
to those who have traditionally been
dependent upon the sea. For instance,
in the state of Penang, fishermen have
struggled with ongoing reclamation efforts
that have polluted the sea, causing a
significant drop in the fish populations off
the coast of Tanjung Tokong.Environmental and economic impacts
are often cited as primary concerns
when it comes to reclamation projects.
For example, at the Melaka Gateway
site, which encompasses 552.8 hectares,
environmental issues are inevitable as
the project will eventually affect the
surrounding ecosystem. According to
Bernama, reclamation projects along the
Melaka shoreline have been one of thecontributing factors to the decreasing
numbers of sea turtles, which are among
Malaysia’s most vulnerable species. In
addition, the breeding grounds of fishery
spots are in turmoil, causing the entire
biodiversity of coastlines to be at risk.A PATH FORWARD
With projects such as Melaka
Gateway, there is a need to balance
economic benefits with environmental
consequences. Do the rewards justify the
risks? We might have heard of and seen
these impressive coastal reclamations
all across Malaysia, especially in Penang,
Melaka, and Johor, but do we remember
the existence of what was replaced and
how it has affected those who live there?
Or do we nonchalantly dismiss them,
convincing ourselves that we are not
accountable for what is being done to
our environment? In the name of what
are supposedly “eco-cities”, we accept
modern comforts in place of what were
once natural landscapes. Whether it’s
Forest City in Johor, Marina Island in
Perak, or Melaka Gateway, it remains to
be seen if the developments will be worth
the changes inflicted on both the people
and environment.