THE Penang government came under fire for refusing to rescind the proposed Jelutong landfill redevelopment and reclamation project despite it being rejected for the fifth time by the supervising authority of the Department of Environment (DOE).
In a statement, the residents' action group, called the Protect Karpal Singh Drive were critical of Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow for the alleged support of the project's developer while singling out state executive councillor Datuk Seri S. Sundarajoo, who oversees the environment, for his refusal to meet the group over the matter.
The group said that on September 23, 2025, Sundarajoo, in his capacity as exco for the environment, categorically and unequivocally denied any jurisdiction or involvement in the landfill project, deflecting all responsibility to his colleague Jason H'ng Mooi Lye, who oversees the local government portfolio.
"Both offered zero assistance to ProtectKarpal. Yet on June 8, 2026 — barely nine months later — Sundarajoo found it fit to meet with the DOE to seek clarification over their rejection of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). This is a direct and inexcusable contradiction that cannot go unanswered."
Selective accountability is an insult to the residents — when ProtectKarpal and affected communities sought Sundarajoo's intervention, he washed his hands of the matter entirely, the group said.
Denial of assistance is a dereliction of duty — as exco for the environment, Sundarajoo bears direct constitutional and moral responsibility over environmental matters affecting Penang’s residents.
His refusal to engage in September last year was not merely unhelpful — it was a failure of public office.
His present engagement with the DOE confirms he always had the standing and authority to act — he simply chose not to.
The group were also critical of Chow for the move to seek feedback and a report from the DOE before deciding on the proposed Jelutong landfill rehabilitation and sea reclamation project at Karpal Singh Drive.
Chow said the state held a meeting with the DOE recently, and the outcome of the discussions would be tabled at the state executive council meeting later today.
“We met with the department to understand the considerations surrounding the EIA application for the proposed landfill rehabilitation project. This means the process is still ongoing,” said Chow.
Chow was responding to Protect Karpal's claims on whether the developer involved in the Jelutong landfill agreement was receiving extraordinary leeway from the state.
The controversial project also received attention from Chow's predecessor, Lim Guan Eng, who accused the state of adopting a direct tender process for the developer to undertake the reclamation segment of the project.
The landfill, which is now no longer utilised with the majority of solid waste dispatched daily across the Penang Channel to Pulau Burung in Nibong Tebal, was targeted for rehabilitation and redevelopment.
The proposed reclamation of land was to facilitate the rehabilitation process, but the nearby Protect Karpal residents formed an action group to oppose it, saying that both the redevelopment and reclamation would harm the environment. - June 10, 2026.
