The Hills and the Sea (2017)
Director: Andrew Ng
Nobody actually bothers about the little people in this world. They only matter to leaders when they are not on the ruling side or to ruling leaders when it is time for their re-election. Otherwise, it is just lip-service.
This 25-minute documentary highlights the effects of overdevelopment of Penang Island to the coastal fishing community of Tanjung Tokong and the displacement of the Dusky Leaf monkeys from the hills of Penang.
Reclamation of lands around the Penang has utterly destroyed the corals, swamp and the marine life around the bay around Tanjung Tokong. Small-time coastal fishermen had been sustaining their family for generations with their little boat catching fishes, crabs and prawns in this area. The building of high rise luxury apartments had not only damaged their rice bowls, but it has also made them strangers on their own turf. A portion of the lagoon had been cordoned off and is classified as private property.
Pleas to the powers that be by the fishermen representatives for aid for bigger boats and durable fishing nets as well as equipment for deep-sea fishing has fallen on deaf ears. The silence from the leaders is deafening. Somehow, these little people feel sidelined to serve the interests of the developers. They are not anti-development but merely want to be able to join in the merriment of living in comfort as the state prospers.
The scarcity of land also pushes development towards the hills. The introvert occupants of these hills, the Dusky Leaf monkeys are feeling the brunt of loss of habitat and difficulty in finding food as the highway cuts through their home. Researcher Joleen Yap highlights the plights of these cute animals as they become road kills when they have to venture far from their usual surroundings for survival. Her efforts seem to be bearing fruit as the people high up have agreed to reassess the environmental impact of the project. Things like canopy bridges are in the pipeline to ease their access to the other parts of the island.
This film debuted at the Malaysian Freedom Film Festival on 2nd September 2017. After the screening of the documentary, the Director, Joleen Yap and the representatives of the affected fishermen were there in person to highlight their grievances.
Director: Andrew Ng
Nobody actually bothers about the little people in this world. They only matter to leaders when they are not on the ruling side or to ruling leaders when it is time for their re-election. Otherwise, it is just lip-service.This 25-minute documentary highlights the effects of overdevelopment of Penang Island to the coastal fishing community of Tanjung Tokong and the displacement of the Dusky Leaf monkeys from the hills of Penang.
Reclamation of lands around the Penang has utterly destroyed the corals, swamp and the marine life around the bay around Tanjung Tokong. Small-time coastal fishermen had been sustaining their family for generations with their little boat catching fishes, crabs and prawns in this area. The building of high rise luxury apartments had not only damaged their rice bowls, but it has also made them strangers on their own turf. A portion of the lagoon had been cordoned off and is classified as private property.Pleas to the powers that be by the fishermen representatives for aid for bigger boats and durable fishing nets as well as equipment for deep-sea fishing has fallen on deaf ears. The silence from the leaders is deafening. Somehow, these little people feel sidelined to serve the interests of the developers. They are not anti-development but merely want to be able to join in the merriment of living in comfort as the state prospers.
The scarcity of land also pushes development towards the hills. The introvert occupants of these hills, the Dusky Leaf monkeys are feeling the brunt of loss of habitat and difficulty in finding food as the highway cuts through their home. Researcher Joleen Yap highlights the plights of these cute animals as they become road kills when they have to venture far from their usual surroundings for survival. Her efforts seem to be bearing fruit as the people high up have agreed to reassess the environmental impact of the project. Things like canopy bridges are in the pipeline to ease their access to the other parts of the island.
This film debuted at the Malaysian Freedom Film Festival on 2nd September 2017. After the screening of the documentary, the Director, Joleen Yap and the representatives of the affected fishermen were there in person to highlight their grievances.
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