GEORGE TOWN – The controversial Penang South Islands (PSI) project will not only stem the purported brain drain faced by the state but will also serve to preserve and strengthen family institutions, said one Penang lawmaker.
Seri Delima assemblyman Syerleena Abdul Rashid believes that when the state’s youth are forced to look elsewhere for employment, it results in ageing parents being left to fend for themselves.
Therefore, she argues, the PSI project’s ability to create jobs will effectively kill two birds with one stone.
“Even the parents say there are no jobs for the kids, so why can’t we provide the same opportunities in Penang and keep the families close together?” she told The Vibes during a 15th general election campaign walkabout.
On November 19, Syerleena will be gunning for Penang’s Bukit Bendera Parliament seat under the Pakatan Harapan banner.
The PSI project is a mammoth land reclamation project consisting of three man-made islands built for mixed residential and commercial use.
Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), among other private entities, is partnering with the Penang government to create the PSI.
BIG, as well as Ramboll, a project managing and engineering company, were recently selected by the Penang government to design the Penang South Islands project that will total up to 1,821ha.
According to the project designer, Ramboll Group website, the PSI will measure approximately 1,800ha in total size and contain 4.6km of public beaches, 240ha of parks, and a 25km waterfront.
While acknowledging the existence of criticism towards the project, Syerleena says that the majority of Penangites “want and see the benefit” of the project.
In September 2021, the project’s environmental impact assessment (EIA) was revoked after the local fishing community made an appeal to the Environment Department.
Following this, the Penang government filed an appeal that was subsequently rejected.
However, it was later reported that Penang had filed a judicial review to challenge the high court’s ruling, with state executive councillor Zairil Khir Johari asserting that the state was committed to continuing with the project.
Meanwhile, Syerleena took the opportunity to blast the federal government, alluding to the fact that it had forced Penang to embark on the PSI.
“In a just world... if we had just funding coming in from the federal government, the issue would be very different from what we’re facing now.” – The Vibes, November 18, 2022
