CHIEF Minister Chow Kon Yeow has rebutted claims that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for Penang South Reclamation project was approved in two days.
He pointed out that a portal’s report on Sept 16, titled “Researcher asks how Penang reclamation was approved in 2 days”, was inaccurate and baseless as the application process for EIA had started since 2017.
“The Penang government and its Project Delivery Partner (PDP) have waited for two years for the approval to be given,” Chow told a press conference at Komtar today.
“I would definitely welcome it with open arms if this could be done in two days. But this is not the case.
“Because of this negative information, we are called upon to give the right information. We hope they are responsible in providing the news. They have the right to give their views but not to provide false news.”
Chow gave a chronology of events since the day the state government submitted its EIA application to the Department of Environment (DOE) on April 28, 2017 and obtained approval only on June 25, 2019.
He said even to get the fisheries impact assessment took them about six months.
State Health, Agriculture, Agro-Based Industry and Rural Development Committee chairman Dr Afif Bahardin, who was also among those present at the press conference, was tasked to handle the compensation package for the affected fishermen.
He said he would be presenting his proposal at the upcoming executive council (exco) meeting on Oct 2 for the state government’s approval.
“Reclamation will take time, which is expected to be more than five years. We will factor this into consideration when discussing the fishermen’s plight,” Dr Afif said after being asked by a reporter on the update of fishermen issue.
“In fact, a few components on the compensation have been discussed. One of them is the new locality to be provided to the fishermen.
“I need to get the nod from state to start the discussion with the fishermen.”
The PSR project involves development of three man-made islands, measuring size of over 1,800 hectares.
The proceeds of the sales would be channeled to fund the comprehensive Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) with an aim to ease traffic congestion in the state.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Alissala Thian
Video by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi