GEORGE TOWN – Gerakan has criticised the Penang state government for allegedly disrespecting the people and judicial process, following the implementation of the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project.
The party’s deputy president Oh Tong Keong said he disputed how the state government still wanted to continue the mega project even though it had yet to receive the approval of the environmental management plan (EMP) report from the Environment Department (DoE).
“Apart from the EMP, the appeal process of the fishermen challenging the approval of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report has also yet to be heard, so how can the state government announce that the Island A reclamation project will begin in May.
“The action of Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abd Rahman who brought the media to visit Pulau A embankment area last Sunday also clearly does not respect the people of Penang,” he said.
Oh, who is also the Gerakan Penang chairman, said that the state government was also seen to be deliberately ignoring the opposition of the people and fishermen.
He said the objection of the fishermen via the legal system should be taken seriously and respected, and their objection is also proof that the community had never agreed to its implementation.
“The fishermen have filed an appeal to challenge the decision, under Section 35 (1) of the Environmental Quality Act 1974.
“However, before the process started, the state government made a visit and announced it would continue the project.
“This is very disrespectful of the legal process. Because the decision of the appeal may invalidate the EIA report ”.
Oh further urged the federal government to intervene in this matter to prevent the actions of the state government.
He said the PSR reclamation project involved the future of the people of Penang.
“Although many Penangites oppose the reclamation project, the state government still insists on implementing it. The motive behind it is really questionable.”
Last Sunday, the state government announced that the PSR reclamation work would be pushed back to either end of May or the beginning of June.
This is because the state government is still waiting for the approval of the EMP report which was submitted to the DoE early this year, and should be ready within 90 days.
In March, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow announced that preliminary survey work and soil investigation at the Island A site for the PSR project would begin on March 29, 2021. – The Vibes, April 14, 2021
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