AMID ongoing controversy surrounding the Penang South Islands (PSI) project, the Penang government has announced that it is scaling down plans to create three islands via sea reclamation on the south of the state to only one island.
According to Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow, this is the urging of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Chow also said that in comparison to the initial proposal of three islands totaling 4,500 acres, the project will be reduced to 2,300 acres on a single island south of the Penang International Airport runway.
The reduction means that the project will affect only 115 fishermen from Permatang Tepi Laut facing the reclaimed island, as opposed to 496 if the three islands are created, he added.
“Overall, the development of Silicon Island (formerly known as Island A) will take about 20 years, including topside development,” he was quoted as saying to reporters in George Town.
The turnabout came at the urging of Anwar and the federal government’s commitment to give more cash to speed up the development of the state’s Light Rail Transit (LRT) system.
According to Chow, Silicon Island will be built in two phases, with the first phase measuring 1,300 acres and expected to take seven to ten years to complete, with an LRT depot planned to be built on a 60-acre site there.
He stated that the original plan was to have the LRT depot on the main island across from the airport, but that this was discontinued due to the relocation of three villages, places of worship, and societal repercussions.
Chow also said the second phase would expand the island by 1,000 acres.
In the meantime, Sahabat Alam Malaysia president Meenakshi Raman stated that the amended proposal to scale down the reclamation off the south coast of Penang Island is still unacceptable, since 2,500 acres is still considered very vast and will have an impact on the fishing spawning grounds and the environment.
Meena further stated that it will require enormous amounts of sand for reclamation from Penang or Perak waterways, causing additional damage.
“It is not correct to say a smaller number of fisherfolk will be affected as it is about destroying mudflats, coral reefs affecting the marine habitat and shrimp migration.
“So, it is not only the fisherfolk near the immediate site who will be affected but those along Penang, Kedah and Perak waters,” she said on the Sahabat Alam Malaysia Facebook page.
“There is no need for the project at all since the funding for the LRT is already promised by the federal government.
“So, scrap the project. Not scale it down!” she said. – May 11, 2023
Main pic credit: Facebook/Chow Kon Yeow 曹觀友
