EIA report for Jelutong landfill rehab project rejected

 

The Environment Department (DOE) has rejected a developer’s environmental impact assessment (EIA) report for the planned Jelutong rehabilitation and reclamation project in Penang.

According to the agency's website, the report for a “proposed landfill rehabilitation and land reclamation works for mixed development” at Bandar Jelutong's Section 8 was listed as “tidak diluluskan” (not approved).

Project developer PLB Engineering Berhad submitted the report to DOE via EIA consultant Yes Bizs Sdn Bhd on Feb 26.

However, the website did not state the reasons behind the rejection.

‘Clear signal’

In response to the decision, the environmental group called Penang Climate and Ecological Network (Jedi) described it as a "clear signal" that developments proposed in environmentally sensitive coastal areas require far greater scrutiny.

"The waters off Karpal Singh Drive are located near Middle Bank, an ecologically important marine area known for its seagrass meadows.

"These habitats play a vital role in supporting marine biodiversity, fisheries resources, and coastal ecological balance. Once damaged or affected by reclamation, such ecosystems are extremely difficult to restore.

"Jedi therefore urges the Penang government to treat this decision as an opportunity to rethink development priorities along the Jelutong coastline," it said in a statement.

Middle Bank Marine Sanctuary

The group also called on the state government to gazette the Middle Bank as a sensitive marine environmental area.

This, it stressed, is to ensure that its ecological value is formally recognised and protected.

Jedi also congratulated the Penang community and a pressure group called Protect Karpal Singh Drive Action Committee for their success after relentlessly working to increase awareness about the risks of the planned project.

Reject proposal

In February 2025, the DOE published the EIA for the project, which is meant to rehabilitate a 40-year-old landfill and rejuvenate the area for other land use, stretching 160 acres (64.7ha).

This includes 90 acres where the landfill is and 70 acres via reclamation, according to the EIA published on Feb 12 and was open for public feedback until March 22.

Following this, the action committee urged DOE and the government to reject the proposal.

They claimed the report was flawed and contained misleading information about the extent of pollution impacts on people’s health and the environment. - Mkini