PSI vital sustainable strategy to secure future of Penang, well-being of people

Published by NewStraitsTime • 27/4/2023

The Penang South Islands (PSI) project is the state government’s strategy to make Penang’s economy more resilient for future generations while prioritising environmental sustainability. – NSTP/MIKAIL ONG

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang South Islands (PSI) project is the state government’s strategy to make Penang’s economy more resilient for future generations while prioritising environmental sustainability.

Defending the controversial reclamation project from various misleading claims, Penang Infrastructure Corporation (PIC), as the Penang government’s special purpose vehicle to implement the PSI project, said at the centre of the first island, or known as Island A, would be the new 280 hectare Green Tech Park designed for high-tech industries of the future.

“The development will drive the creation of over 460,000 jobs and generate a forecasted GDP of RM2.2 trillion in a 30-year time frame,” it said today.

According to the PIC, the design of the PSI project, which will be developed with a Low Carbon Cities Framework (LCCF) during its topside development phase, has exceeded the emissions reduction of 40 per cent as advised by the National Planning Council (MPFN),which garnered the Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC) accreditation on Feb 20 with a 45 per cent emissions reduction by 2050.

It said further measures that would be implemented include the mandate of the Green Building Index (GBI) certification for the development of individual plots.

It added that within the GBI criteria, scores would be imposed on aspects related to green building materials, energy and resource-efficient fittings and fixtures, greenery as well as design innovations to reduce the building’s carbon footprint.

Yesterday, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow announced that Penang had finally obtained Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval for the PSI reclamation project.

He said it came with 71 conditions to be fulfilled.

He also said that any reclamation works would only begin after the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) approval had been obtained, which was expected in the third quarter of this year.

PIC said their three fishermen engagement centres, known as Pusat Perkhidmatan Setempat Nelayan (PPSN), operating at the site, were in constant contact with the fishermen and provided various forms of assistance to them. – NSTP/MIKAIL ONG

Environmental groups and fisherfolk expressed dismay that the EIA had been approved.

They claimed that all the concerns they raised over the years had came to nothing and hadcalled the Department of Environment (DoE) to make the grounds of the decision transparent.

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) also asked the Penang government to make public the 71 conditions which had been imposed.

Meanwhile, Penang Fishermen’s Association (Pen Mutiara) deputy chairman Zakaria Ismail said they would submit another appeal to the DoE’s Appeal Board with regards to the latest approval.

PIC said with regards to concerns about the fisheries and the fate of fishermen, the issue had been addressed many times over the years.

“We would like to reiterate that the fishermen of southern Penang island can still continue to fish during and after the reclamation.

“The project’s implementation will not prevent them from fishing and the usual fishing ground for fishermen in the area are located beyond the reclamation site,” it added.

PIC said their three fishermen engagement centres, known as Pusat Perkhidmatan Setempat Nelayan (PPSN), operating at the site, were in constant contact with the fishermen and provided various forms of assistance to them.

Yesterday, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow announced that Penang had finally obtained Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval for the PSI reclamation project.

“Recently, we also helped some 40 fishermen with their insurance and licence renewal to continue fishing after they faced difficulties renewing them.

“Again, for the record, the state government will continue to implement the Social Impact Management Plan (SIMP), which benefits fishermen from nine fishermen units in southern Penang island.

“Some of the benefits are in the form of new larger boats and more powerful engines, financial aid, skills training, job and business opportunities, new jetties and even education support programmes for their children.

“The PSI Ecology Offset Master Plan (PEOM), which features initiatives such as mangrove planting, deployment of artificial reefs and release of fish and shrimp fries, will also be implemented to mitigate the project’s impact on the environment and create new habitats for marine life,” it said, noting that both the SIMP and PEOM were part of the condition in the EIA approval.

According to PIC, these details can be viewed in the approved EIA Report, which has been made available for public viewing on our website penanginfra.com.

The report can also be viewed on the EIA consultant’s website at https://www.drnik.com.my/svc_ce_p5.php.

“All the above-listed programmes in the reclamation of PSI will be implemented accordingly and will be the showcase of PSI if EMP is approved and reclamation cancommence,” PIC assured.