KUALA LUMPUR – Penang Muda has urged the state government to provide details on the 71 stipulated terms in the Penang South Islands’ (PSI) environmental impact assessment (EIA) approval.
The chapter’s executive committee member Muhammad Danial Abdul Majeed said while the project may bring benefits to the state, a proper risk analysis should be conducted and all parties should be considered to ensure a fair and balanced approach.
“Previously, the project was put on hold due to several factors, including concerns about the ecosystem, the impact on the livelihoods of fishermen, and environmental sustainability,” he said in a statement.
“The sudden approval of the EIA raises questions about the 71 stipulated terms, and whether they will be implemented effectively.”
He also requested the government to provide information about the project’s cost, return on investment, and contractors involved, as well as career opportunities for locals and non-locals.
The PSI 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.
Recently, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the project had received approval from the Natural Resources, Environment, and Climate Change Ministry. Nonetheless, it came with 71 conditions under an elaborate environmental management plan.
The Penang Infrastructure Corp insisted that the project is a strategy to make the state’s economy more resilient for future generations while prioritising sustainability.
It also reiterated that fishermen in Penang may still continue to fish during and after the reclamation, and the project will not prevent them from doing so. – The Vibes, April 28, 2023
