BUTTERWORTH – Despite the month-long public display of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the proposed RM2 billion land reclamation project, PKR’s Teluk Air Tawar assemblyman Datuk Mustafa Kamal Ahmad said he did not get the relevant documents and declined to comment.
Mustafa told The Vibes that he is adopting a wait-and-see approach for the project that will span Bagan Ajam to Teluk Air Tawar.
He said he has also yet to receive the details of the proposed reclamation project along the coastline undertaken by Rayston Consortium (Butterworth) Sdn Bhd.
“I feel it will be appropriate for me to react after seeing the documents of the proposed project. I will reserve my comments until I get the details or see the documents of the proposed project.”
He said it was initially approved by the Barisan Nasional (BN) state government in 1999 and so far, none of his constituents have opposed the proposed project.
The EIA was displayed to the public at three locations – at the Environment and Water Ministry in Putrajaya, the Penang Environment Department, and Seberang Prai City Council from September 13 to October 12.
The executive summary of the EIA was on display for a month until October 27 for the public to submit feedback or objections.
On October 27, Penang opposition leader Datuk Muhamad Yusoff Mohd Noor submitted an objection to DoE director Sharifah Zakiah Syed Sahab at the state headquarters in Kepala Batas over the project.
Yusoff, who is also Sg Dua assemblyman and Tasek Gelugor Umno chief, said the proposed project involving the reclamation of 407ha of land off the coast of Bagan Ajam would have socio-economic and environmental repercussions.
He added that the reclamation would affect the mangrove swamp ecosystem from Teluk Air Tawar to Kuala Muda, and the habitat of 120 species of migratory birds.
He said although the project was initially approved by the then BN state government, the current Pakatan Harapan administration renewed the agreement in 2018.
If the project is given the go-ahead, he will hand a protest memorandum to the prime minister, environment and water minister, and defence minister for further action and would continue with follow-up protests. – The Vibes, November 15, 2021
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