Penang South Reclamation project gets approval from federal govt

GEORGE TOWN (April 18): The proposed Penang South Reclamation (PSR) mega project has received the approval from the National Physical Planning Council (NPPC), reports said today.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow (pictured) confirmed in a statement that the NPPC had agreed to the project “as long as it adhered to the 18 conditions set”, reported The Malay Mail.

Chow did not go into the details of the conditions.

“The project was proposed as it is a funding module for the implementation of the Penang Transport Master Plan,” he said.

He also said the Penang authorities will adhere to all conditions set by the NPPC.

“We will adhere to all feedback from the relevant technical departments regarding the implementation of the project in line with Section 2A(2)(b) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1976,” Chow said.

The PSR proposes to construct islands measuring 4,500 acres off the southern coast of Penang island in an effort to increase the state’s landbank.

Lots on the islands will be sold to fund the state’s mega RM46 billion Penang Transport Master Plan, reported the news portal.

Earlier this week, the Department of Environment approved the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the Pan Island Link 1 (PIL1).

Numerous NGOs have since voiced their unhappiness over the approval for PIL1.

“We were among many thousands of Penangites and groups who had voiced our deep concerns over the EIA, which had many flaws,” president of the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) and Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) SM Mohamed Idris said on Monday.

“The PIL1 will change the character of Penang dramatically, with an elevated highway running along Gottlieb Road, Youth Park and tunnelling done close to Penang Hill and Kek Lok Si, some of the island’s iconic structures,"  said chairperson of Tanjong Bungah Residents Association (TBRA) Meena Raman.