The Penang state government is working on the best ways to create long-term income for fishermen affected by the Penang Sea Reclamation (PSR) project.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said he was open-minded in accepting opinions from various parties for the benefit of the people.

"We will look at creating a fund that will be able to provide long-term income to the affected, rather than giving one-off cash. This is because if we give one-off cash, we worry the money will be spent soon.

"That's why we want to find a formula, maybe a gradual grant until the project is ready so that it will be able to benefit them in the long run," Chow said in George Town yesterday.

He told reporters this after attending a dialogue session on the use of public transport, organised by the Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI.

Chow was commenting on PKR president Anwar Ibrahim's statement at the Penang PKR Convention, which called for the implementation of the PSR to be discontinued until a further study and detailed analysis on the effects on the area and those involved were carried out.

"It is not just compensation that should be considered, but a long term project to ensure the livelihood of the fishermen in the area are sustained," he said.

According to Chow, the state government is trying to set up regular cash contribution until the PSR project is fully completed so that the fishermen will not get into financial trouble.

"Anwar neither supports nor objects to the PSR project, but he simply asked the state government to take care of the people's interests so that they would not be adversely affected if the project were to go ahead," Chow said.

- Bernama