KUALA LUMPUR – The Environment Department must make public the grounds of the Penang South Island (PSI) approval and the 71 conditions attached with it, said Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM).
In expressing its disappointment, the green group has accused the state and federal governments of exacerbating environmental and social injustice by proceeding with the reclamation project.
“We are disappointed that the new government is ignoring food security, environmental integrity, and the actual scale of negative and long-term impacts caused by the reclamation.
“This carbon-intensive, capital-intensive reclamation project runs contrary to today’s planning imperative, which calls for climate-resilient development,” SAM honorary secretary Mageswari Sangaralingam said in a statement, adding that the group will remain opposed to the mega project.
She added that it is appalling that the project has been approved despite concerns and objections raised by the Penang Fishermen’s Association and Persatuan Nelayan Kawasan Selatan Pulau Pinang.
“SAM was a member of the EIA Technical Review Committee (EIATRC) and we had raised our objections too, in support of the fishing community as well as concerns over the environment.
“Others who had also objected and who were in the EIATRC included fishery-related agencies, i.e. the Fisheries Department, Lembaga Kemajuan Ikan Malaysia, and the Fisheries Research Institute.”
She added that the impact of sourcing for sand and other fill materials such as rocks was omitted when assessing the impact scale of the project .
According to her, the PSI project consisting of three reclaimed islands with a total area of 1,821.1ha requires fill material estimated at 207,000,000 m3.
“The total rock volume required for the construction of revetment as edge protection of the reclaimed islands is 4,500,000 m3. Our call that the environmental impacts of sourcing the sand and rocks must be included in the cumulative impact of PSI-related activities was also negated.”
Earlier, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow announced that the revised PSI received the final approval from the Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry, with 71 conditions attached under an elaborate environmental management plan.
The reclamation project is a state government initiative to underwrite the RM46 billion Penang Transport Master Plan through the reclamation of the three islands covering 1,620ha off Permatang Damar Laut. – The Vibes, April 26, 2023
