No approval yet for Penang South reclamation project

Works on the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project cannot commence until its Environment Management Plan (EMP) has been approved by the Department of Environment, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Environment and Water Minister Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the EMP is one of the 72 conditions stipulated in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the project.

"Permanent (environmental) damage (due to PSR) will have significant negative impact on fishery, fishermen and the country's food source. The project has not commenced and is not allowed to commence because it has not received the approval," he said in response to a question from Che Alias Hamid (PAS-Kemaman) during the question and answer session.

Che Alias wanted to know measures taken by the ministry to stop the sea reclamation project from being carried out.

Tuan Ibrahim said the project could be detrimental to the mudflat ecosystem, fishing areas, turtle landing sites and some parts of the coral reef in waters of Pulau Rimau.

To a supplementary question from Wong Hon Wai (PH-Bukit Bendera), Tuan Ibrahim said the ministry would study the report with transparency and professionally, taking into account the impact of a project of such size would have on the environment.

The 17-square kilometre PSR project involves the development of three artificial islands of about 1,700-acres in waters off Permatang Damar Laut, near Bayan Lepas.

It is being developed to finance various infrastructure projects under the Penang Transport Master Plan worth RM46 billion.

--BERNAMA