PSR approved by DOE on D-G’s last day at work?

The approval letter for the Penang South Reclamation which Penang Forum claims was prepared earlier with its date handwritten.

GEORGE TOWN: A pressure group has asked if it is mere coincidence that the three islands project in Penang was approved on the last day of office of Department of Environment director-general Ahmad Kamarulnajuib Che Ibrahim.

Penang Forum said approval letter date June 25 coincided with his retirement.

“It appears the letter’s date was filled up in handwriting. This means they have prepared the approval much earlier and then you write in on the last day of work,” said Penang Forum steering committee member Khoo Salma Nasution.

“Is this another premature approval, similar to the two-day approval given to the three islands project? We hope the DOE can explain.”

Khoo also showed a DOE Facebook post on June 25 showing Kamarulnajib bidding goodbye.

The said letter was also held up by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yewo on July 5 in announcing the reclamation project’s approval.

DOE director-general Ahmad Kamarulnajuib Che Ibrahim on his last day at work as seen in this picture posted on the department’s Facebook page on June 25.(Facebook pic)

Earlier, Penang Forum researcher Evelyn Teh said the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) was approved in two days, based on a timeline sourced from the state government’s reports and updates on the project.

The claim was dismissed by Chow as “fake”, adding that the state took two years to obtain approval from the DOE.

Khoo defended Teh’s findings, saying the state’s response was misleading, as it included the time it took to get the first attempt at approval from the DOE in 2017.

The 2017 application was rejected in August last year.

FMT has contacted the DOE for a response. - FMT