The public viewing of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report for the Penang South Islands (PSI) reclamation project has received positive comments from respondents, Environment director-general Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar said.
He said the public viewing was carried out from May 20 to June 18, 2022, in hybrid form, and from Nov 21, 2022, to Jan 4, 2023 - and both had received positive comments.
Among the issues highlighted in the report are that the PSI would reduce traffic congestion, create new job opportunities, economic development and benefits for the fisherfolk.
“From the first EIA public viewing, 3,464 public comments were recorded, and 93 percent of respondents gave positive comments.
“For the second EIA public viewing, 799 public comments were received, and 73.7 percent of the respondents gave positive comments,” Wan Abdul Latiff (above) said in a statement yesterday.
Following that, he said the Department of Environment (DOE) has approved the EIA Report, as provided for under the Environmental Quality Act 1974, while project approval is under the purview of the state authorities.
Wan Abdul Latiff added that DOE has made an assessment in terms of environmental impact (magnitude and significance level) as well as proposed pollution mitigation and control measures.
It took into account all inputs from the assessment panel and the public, so that the project benefits Penangites.
“The EIA report approval letter for the proposed project was signed on April 11 - along with the 71 approval conditions which must be fulfilled,” he said.
He said that once the project has been approved by the state authority (project approving agency), project implementation cannot begin onsite until an Environmental Management Plan is approved by the DOE.
“The DOE also wants the Penang government to ensure that project implementers pay serious attention to residual impact, and implement all mitigation and pollution control measures without fail with the technical advice of relevant departments, including the Malaysian Fisheries Department,” Wan Abdul Latiff said.
On Wednesday, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow announced that the EIA report for the PSI project had been approved by the DOE.
PSI is a project to develop three artificial islands, with an area of approximately 1,700 hectares, in the waters of Permatang Damar Laut, near Bayan Lepas.
However, the project has received protests from the fishing community and environmental NGOs, claiming it will damage the marine ecosystem.
- Bernama
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