Penang reclamation critics stand by appeal

GEORGE TOWN – Critics of the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project are urging the state government to respect the legal process after an appeal was filed in July last year challenging the environmental impact assessment (EIA).

But the Penang government is adamant that the PSR will proceed as scheduled.

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) president Meenakshi Raman said it is premature for the state to announce that PSR works will begin next year.

“Penang has ignored the country's legal system.

“A hearing is pending against the decision by the then DOE (Department of Environment) director-general, granting conditional approval of the project’s EIA.

“Until the appeal is concluded and legal issues resolved, the state government must respect the law and not proceed with the PSR,” she told The Vibes.

The Sungai Batu fishermen's representatives have challenged the approval of the EIA on various grounds.

Their grouses include that the DOE's approval of the EIA was premature as the it was incomplete and had not taken into account the conditions imposed by the Agriculture and Agro -Based Industries Ministry.

They claimed that the project undermined Malaysia’s obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity, and these are substantial grounds. The matter could be litigated right up to the Federal Court and could take many months.

PSR was to be the backbone of the ambitious Penang Transport Master Plan aimed at catalysing economic growth and significantly reducing traffic congestion.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow had said the contract for the first stage of reclamation was expected to be awarded on February 1 and the construction of a workers’ dorm and a site office at Permatang Damar Laut were expected to be awarded on December 1.

Meenakshi said Penang Forum will continue to defend the rights of fishermen and find ways to stop the PSR project.

“We will continue to oppose the PSR because of our sensitive ecosystem and past reclamation works have eroded the quality of our environment.”

Despite the developer’s mandate to put in artificial reefs, any mitigation measures to replace nature will be inadequate, she said.

Meanwhile, Penang Forum – a group of civil societies, social activists and environmentalists – also threw its weight to oppose the reclamation project.

Its executive council member Khoo Salma Nasution said she will continue to protest against the PSR because she is worried about the climate change that Penang residents are expected to face in the future.

“As a Penangite I am concerned that the state government is planning to go ahead with the three fantasy islands without taking into account the new realities of the Covid-19 (global) pandemic and climate change.

“In fact, the current state of Gurney Wharf channel that is polluted, silted and stalled should serve as a reality check. We owe it to the future generation to speak out against this marginalisation of the fishermen and the ecosystem.”

The PSR project will be spread over 17 sq km, with three islands sized 9.3 sq km, 4.45 sq km and 3.23 sq km, to be reclaimed off the coast of Permatang Damar Laut, near the Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas.

The reclaimed islands will belong to the state government but land parcels will be auctioned off to the highest bidders to finance the transport master plan. – The Vibes, September 21, 2020