GEORGE TOWN – The Penang South Islands (PSI) project has attracted yet another opponent, as the Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry now wants it cancelled.
The ministry is mulling to offer its input to the Environment Department (DoE), which will deliberate whether to approve the revised environmental management plan (EMP) for the project.
The Penang government is expected to submit a revised EMP this month after DoE rejected the previous one as the details did not line up with the environmental impact assessment of the project.
Deputy Agriculture and Food Industries Minister II Datuk Che Abdullah Mat Nawi said PSI will bring a negative impact to local fish production in the long run.
“The possibility (of asking for the EMP to not be approved) is always there.
“We will try to look into any role and task that we can do (in ensuring the Penang South Reclamation project is cancelled),” he told a press conference after meeting the fishing community in Sg Batu and Teluk Kumbar who will be directly affected by the PSI project.
Earlier, DoE in a statement said it has yet to receive the revised EMP after the previously submitted document did not line up with the assessment approved on June 25, 2019.
Che Abdullah also questioned the state government’s motive to continue the project despite two more studies pointing to noise pollution and an impact on prawn and fish stocks.
If PSI continues, a total of 87 fish species will be affected, he added.
“While Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the contribution of fishery resources in the area amounts to only 0.2% in comparison with national numbers, as head of the state government, he should be working with various parties to improve fishery resources in the area.” – The Vibes, June 16, 2021
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