A PUBLIC engagement session between the state government and residents along the Karpal Singh Drive in Jelutong, George Town turned unruly today.
Penang Island City Council (MBPP) Lord Mayor Datuk Anthony Rajendran retorted that he didn't appreciate the tone aimed at him and those present.
The heated exchanges were over the proposed reclamation and recycling project of the Jelutong sanitary landfill, which sits adjacent to the esplanade neighbourhood, one of the newest reclaimed townships.
Earlier, Anthony told one of the organisers Ng Tien Ong to allow the project consultant Datuk Dr Lee Aik Heng to finish his explanation before interrupting him.
State executive councillor Lim Swee Khim and Jelutong MP RSN Rayer had left the gathering earlier.
Rajendran assured the residents and civil society activists present that their grouses would be duly addressed.
"Let me assure you all that all of your issues would be brought up to the higher authorities for discussion. MBPP is not the sole approving authority," he said.
Rajendran said that the Department of Environment (DoE) can be an independent authority to decide on the project's fate through a new Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) exercise.
Later, he told a media briefing that a previous EIA report has been halted due to the decision to expand the project via reclamation off the Karpal Singh Drive.
NGOs such as Anil Netto from Aliran, Meenaskhi Raman from Sahabat Alam Malaysia, heritage activist Khoo Salma Nasution and environmentalist Dr Kam Suan Pheng told the audience that the proposed project is baffling as it endangers the precious Middle Bank, while the financial aspects of it, is not transparent.
Meenaskhi asked what the status of the previous EIA report was.
Residents’ representatives - Protect Karpal Singh Drive Action Committee chairman AD Chandrasekaran and Dr K. Ganesh said that despite the state's assurance that the rich marine ecosystem at Middle Bank would not be affected by the reclamation, scientific evidence suggests otherwise.
Chandrasekaran warned that sedimentation, habitat destruction and disrupted currents would severely damage the fragile ecosystem, which is known for its marine life and seagrass beds.
The gas emission from recycling of the toxic landfill, can radiate up to 20km, sending a stench as far as George Town or Greenlane on the island.
Rajendran said that he has the best interests of all sides and it was unfair for some residents to blame everything on him.
Unfortunately, the project developer PLB Engineering Bhd did not send any official representative.
Penang PAS committee member Anas Soffy Abd Wahid said the state government can resolve the area by gazetting Middle Bank to be protected at all costs, including the coastal area surrounding it. - May 4, 2025.
