Pengerang: Where Rain and Tears Mixed

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

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, chairperson of the Gabungan NGO Pengerang, spoke about a time soon when the coming generation will have no memory of the villages that will be gone with the project. Just that thought brought tears to her eyes.

Madam Lee and Madam Hay shared the good times where everyone knows each other in Pengerang. They would plant vegetables and exchange with one another. Even though they are not working, they can survive just by planting vegetables and rearing chickens and ducks.

The organizers 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 there was no reply from the related departments.

Video by: Christine Leong, Citizen Journalists Malaysia