DoE: No need for new EIA for scaled down PSI project

Published by NewSTRAITSTimes • 13/5/2023

There is no need for the Penang government to submit a fresh Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) application for the scaled down Penang South Islands (PSI) project. – PIc courtesy of PSI

GEORGE TOWN: There is no need for the Penang government to submit a fresh Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) application for the scaled down Penang South Islands (PSI) project.

The Department of Environment (DoE) said the EIA approval on April 11 had taken into account the implementation of each of the three man-made islands proposed.

“As such, there is no need for a new EIA to be submitted.

“However, there is a need to submit the latest implementation proposal information to the DOE as required in the conditions of approval of the EIA report,” the DoE told the New Straits Times today in response to a query on whether there was a need for the state government to submit a fresh EIA application for the scaled down PSI project.

Elaborating, the DoE said it had not received any new application from the project proponent for the latest proposal.

On Thursday, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow announced that Penang would do away with two of three islands of the controversial PSI reclamation project.

This would mean scaling down 49 per cent of the project.

Island A, now known as Silicon Island, measures about 920ha while islands B and C, about 560ha and 320ha respectively.

Asked then if there was a need for a new EIA to be submitted, Chow said he did not think so as the previous approval was for three islands.

“It is just that we are now proceeding with only one island,” he was quoted as saying.

Responding to Chow’s statement, Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) president Meenakshi Raman told the NST yesterday that they believed there was a need for the state government to submit a fresh EIA application for the scaled down PSI project.

She had said that since there was a change in the development concept, both in the design and the statement of need, there was a need for a new EIA report to be submitted.

She had also said, in fact, that was one of the 71 conditions which were imposed on the EIA approval on April 11.

“One of the 71 conditions imposed on the state in respect of the EIA is that, if there is any change in the development concept, a fresh approval from the Director-General of the Department of Environment (DoE) is required.

“Hence, the DoE approval must be sought again.

“Again, it is our view that since the project involves only one island now, there must be a new EIA,” she was quoted as saying, adding that the state could no longer rely on the DoE’s April 11 approval and proceeded with the environmental management plan (EMP) in view of the change that has occurred.