KUALA LUMPUR – Gamuda Bhd, the majority shareholder of the developer behind the controversial Penang South Island (PSI), said over 90% of public comments on the project were positive.
In a statement responding to critics of the project, it said the two public displays on the project’s environment impact assessment (EIA) report, which has been approved, had garnered support from the majority of the public who commented.
”Over 4,000 official responses were registered during the public display process, of which an overwhelming 93% were positive,” Gamuda said.
It said it will ensure local communities affected by the reclamation project have opportunities for better income and jobs via new equipment and training.
Together with the state government, it will provide local fishermen with larger boats with bigger engines, while upgrades to their berths and boat repair facilities will also be carried out.
The reclamation project itself will provide jobs for local communities, it added.
“In the next 24 months alone, we have identified 550 marine-related jobs for the local workforce, from seafaring work to crew work for the sand dredgers.
“We are now developing the training modules to be used as part of on-the-job training to ensure their fitness for the purpose.
“For the longer term over the next 20 years, thousands of jobs will also be available during the construction phase. We plan to roll out technical and vocational education and training courses for the local youth as a pathway to uplift livelihoods through better-paying jobs,” Gamuda said.
Gamuda holds the majority of shares in SRS Consortium Sdn Bhd, which will execute the PSI project.
The project has been scaled down from three islands to one, after the federal government promised additional funding for Penang’s LRT project, which is part of the RM46 billion Penang Transport Master Plan the PSI is underwriting.
Despite the downsizing, environmental groups and other critics, including some in the Penang fishing community, continue to oppose the PSI on grounds that it will destroy fishing grounds.
Gamuda, however, said the project’s EIA will require the developer to take measures to enhance marine biodiversity in the project vicinity by creating artificial reefs and planting mangroves along the shoreline.
“As a result of these initiatives, the PSI project has secured a high social impact assessment approval rating of 79.1% from the local community, and more specifically, the support of 74.8% of the local fishermen.”
Gamuda added that critics could use legal channels to oppose the project’s approval, citing the Taman Rimba Kiara case which residents had brought to court. – The Vibes, May 16, 2023
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