Pengerang: A cry for the halt of development

Residents, young and old, gathered in Pengerang from 2 to 5pm on May 26, 2012 to express their feelings regarding the RAPID petrochemical project.

Terry Hong, 28, cried as he spoke about the grave of his grandmother, which was dug up without the family’s knowledge. He was also upset about the changes that will be affecting the lives of the residents.

Anis Afida Mohd Azli, chairperson of Gabungan NGO Pengerang, spoke about a time soon when the coming generation will have no memory of the village which will be obsolete with the development of the project.  That thought alone moved her to tears.

Lee and Hay shared with the protesters, the good times when everyone knew each other in Pengerang.  They would plant vegetables and barter with one another.  Even though they are not working, they are able to survive just by planting vegetables and rearing chickens and ducks.

The organisers of the demonstration stressed that they were not against the development of their town, but against the way the residents were ignored despite memorandums being sent in, a reply was yet to be heard from related departments.

Video by: Christine Leong, Citizen Journalists Malaysia