Penang to resubmit EIA for PSR project soon

Published by New Straits Times • 10/03/2022 •4:48pm

Penang Infrastructure Corporation chief executive officer Datuk Seri Farizan Darus said the EIA would incorporate the latest data such as hydraulic report, social impact study report, fisheries study report and other studies set by the DoE before this. – NSTP file pic.

GEORGE TOWN: Penang will resubmit the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report for the development of three artificial islands under the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project to the Department of Environment (DoE) latest by early April.

Penang Infrastructure Corporation chief executive officer Datuk Seri Farizan Darus said the EIA would incorporate the latest data such as hydraulic report, social impact study report, fisheries study report and other studies set by the DoE before this.

“We are now in the final stages of resubmitting the EIA to the DoE since the previous EIA had been cancelled.

“Taking into account the cancelled EIA, along with data dated as far back as five or six years ago, we will resubmit a fresh EIA with the current data and situation. And we expect to resumit it by the end of this month or early April,” he told newsmen here today.

On Sept 8, last year, the New Straits Times reported that fisherfolk, likely to be affected by the PSR project (now known as the Penang South Island reclamation project, or PSI), scored a major victory after they won an appeal to revoke the EIA approval of the controversial project.

This came after the preliminary objection by Zakaria Ismail, head of the fishermen’s unit of Sungai Batu, was allowed and approval by the DoE on the PSR’s EIA was set aside.

The EIA was found to be ultra vires, null and void under Section 34A(4)(a) of the Environmental Quality Act (EQA) 1974.

According to Farizan, the state government was still awaiting the court date for the judicial review to challenge the revocation of the previous EIA.

“As of now, we have yet to receive any date for the court proceeding,” he added.

Farizan also said that since the previous EIA had been cancelled, physical works for the implementation of the PSR project could not be carried out.

Earlier at the press conference, the state government announced the setting up of a new cooperative that would benefit fishermen, residents and the local business community in south Penang island.

Koperasi Komuniti Pulau Pinang Selatan (KKPPSB) is set up under the PSI’s Social Impact Management Plan (SIMP).

Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman said the setting up of KKPPSB was timely, as the upcoming PSI development would spur economic growth in the southern parts of the island near the project site.

“KKPPSB will play a huge role in realising the SIMP benefits such as the building of new fishermen jetties, job and business opportunities, entrepreneurship support and many more.

“There will be many business opportunities for locals to provide goods and services to support the PSI development, recreational fishing and agrotourism activities, which will generate good income for the people,” he said.

The Penang government has allocated a RM5 million start-up capital to enable KKPPSB to kickstart several business activities.