Malaysia’s US$6 billion megaport imperils Mah Meri way of life

Lingan bin Man pulls up to the fishing jetty in the early afternoon, guiding his small boat towards a narrow strip of wooden planks as waves crash against the dock.On board are his wife and toddler. Together, the Malaysian family inspects the day’s catch: 2kg (4.4lbs) of clams after three hours at sea.“I can sell this for US$7,” the 52-year-old said.For fishermen in Kampung Sungai Kurau, a village on Pulau Carey, an island in Selangor state, this has become the new normal.Members of the Mah Meri community say their catch has steadily declined over the past five years, leaving many struggling to make ends meet.Now the villagers fear further disruption as plans move ahead to expand a port into waters they say form part of their traditional fishing grounds.“We are fishermen. We don’t know anything else other than fishing,” said Kamal bin Agil, 53, resting on the jetty.