SHAH ALAM – The government and relevant authorities should come to the ground and engage directly with residents, as it is not transparent for a major project to be approved without informing or consulting affected communities, Pulau Carey villagers said.
Kampung Sungai Kurau chairman Lanuza Layon said residents were shocked to learn that the proposed Westport expansion had already been approved, adding that the community only became aware of the development after it circulated on social media platforms.
“There are six villages on Pulau Carey and Orang Asli live in five of them. The port is planned right in front of my village, yet none of us were informed
“We do not know when discussions took place or who was consulted. It feels as though we do not exist,” he said at a press conference at the Sungai Bumbun Community Hall on Wednesday.
Representatives from five Orang Asli villages gathered to voice their concerns over the port expansion, which they said was proceeding without proper consultation despite the land being gazetted as Orang Asli reserve since 1921.
The Mah Meri community said the project threatens fishing grounds, mangrove ecosystems and traditional wood carving practices recognised by Unesco.
Lanuza said the community was not against development but felt disappointed and sidelined after learning about the project through social media rather than official engagement, raising concerns over the potential loss of livelihoods, ancestral land and cultural heritage.
He added that while residents understood the importance of development for the economy, basic respect and engagement were lacking, questioning why the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) was not consulted if the government was serious about protecting Orang Asli livelihoods.
“If the port is built, our fishing grounds will be affected. Many of us rely on fishing, wood carving and nipah weaving to survive
“Our crafts are not hobbies. They are how we pay for our children’s education and daily needs,” he added, noting that older fishermen would struggle to find alternative employment.
Meanwhile, Orang Asli activist Shaq Koyok from Kampung Pulau Kempas said the last formal meeting between the community and developers took place in 2020, with no clear updates since then.
He said the sudden announcement to accelerate the project after years of silence caused anxiety among residents, particularly those living near the proposed site.
“About 80 per cent of villagers are fishermen.
“Any disruption to the marine environment will directly affect their income and safety,” he said.
Shaq added that land reclamation activities had already disrupted sea currents, damaged mangroves and reduced marine life, making fishing increasingly difficult.
He also raised concerns over environmental damage, safety risks from heavy machinery and increased traffic, as well as the lack of transparency surrounding construction routes and mitigation measures.
The community, he said, believed the project failed to meet the principle of free, prior and informed consent under international standards.
Resident Maznah Anak Unyan from Kampung Sungai Bumbun said access to the sea had already been severely restricted, with only Sungai Kurau and Sungai Judah remaining as viable routes for fishing.
She highlighted that the decline of mangrove resources and nipah palms had affected not only livelihoods but also cultural practices tied to weddings, funerals and traditional crafts.
“In the past, we could collect nipah leaves nearby. Now we have to travel far, and even then supplies are scarce.
“Our culture depends on these resources. Losing them means losing a part of who we are,” she said.
In the meantime, Mah Meri community announced plans to submit a memorandum to Jakoa at the district, state and federal levels, as well as to the Selangor state secretary and Kuala Langat Member of Parliament Datuk Dr Ahmad Yunus, calling for meaningful engagement before any further progress is made.
Earlier, local media have reported that the third port on Pulau Carey is expected to be developed from 2028 to strengthen Port Klang, with an annual handling capacity of up to 30 million TEUs once fully operational. Authorities have said the project is a federal initiative and a key driver of national maritime and logistics growth.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim previously said both the federal and Selangor governments had agreed to expedite the project while safeguarding the rights of Orang Asli, coastal fishermen and the surrounding ecosystem, stressing that development must reflect social justice, integrity and environmental responsibility.
For the Mah Meri community, however, residents say those assurances must be matched with action on the ground, starting with dialogue, transparency and respect for communities whose lives are directly affected.