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'Scrap land reclamation', Penang govt told
Posted on 2 April 2014 - 09:36pm
Last updated on 2 April 2014 - 10:20pm
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GEORGE TOWN: The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) and Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) have urged the Penang state government to scrap the proposed land reclamation for Seri Tanjung Pinang (STPII).

CAP and SAM president SM Mohamed Idris said the project would adversely impact the environment and result in the loss of coastal resources.

"The livelihood of fishermen would be affected as sedimentation and dredging activities could negatively impact fishing grounds," he said in a press conference today.

He also refuted the Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment's (DEIA) claim that marine intertidal life would be re-established via the creation of a new coastline.

"DEIA failed to address how losing 328ha of mudflats could help in restarting the marine food chain. Its assessment of how marine life would simply just return to the way it was shows their lack of understanding of both the natural history of the species and the conditions they rely on to feed and reproduce," he said.

The STP II project involves reclaiming 360ha off the coast near Pesiaran Gurney and is reported to have a gross development value (GDV) of RM25billion.

The massive kidney-shaped island is targetted to have 12,000 new residential units in addition to commercial and retail development.

E & O receives nod for reclamation work

PETALING JAYA: Eastern & Oriental Bhd (E&O) has received a conditional approval letter for the proposed reclamation of Seri Tanjung Pinang's phase 2 project in Tanjung Tokong, Penang.

The company told Bursa Malaysia that it had obtained approval last Thursday from the Department of Environment, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, for a detailed environment impact assessment study and conceptual masterplan of the project.

E&;O was granted the exclusive right to reclaim and develop land at Tanjung Tokong back in 1992, and to date has reclaimed and is continuing to develop the phase 1 project.

"We had sought the state government of Penang's approval to reclaim the balance concession area since April 2011," it said.

The company said many steps remained to be taken and approvals to be obtained before reclamation works can actually commence, not least of all a satisfactory environmental impact assessment study.

However, with the conditional approval in hand, E&O is of the view that another key milestone has been reached for the proposed project.

CAP, SAM DISAPPOINTED Over Approval of STP2 Project

The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) and Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) are disappointed that the Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (DEIA) of the proposed reclamation of Phase 2 of Seri Tanjung Pinang (STP2) at Tanjung Tokong, Penang has been approved.

Besides CAP and SAM, other civil society organisations in Penang had also raised their concerns and called for more in-depth study. Thus we are surprised that the DEIA review panel for this proposed reclamation project had decided to approve the report despite the many objections, issues and questions which remain unanswered.

Among the issues raised by CAP and SAM were justification of the entire project, impact of the previous reclamation for STP1 which has caused sedimentation and erosion elsewhere, mitigation for significant loss of coastal zone and marine resources, undervaluation of environmental services provided by mudflats, seabed habitat and underestimation of impacts of dredging.

The least that the DEIA panel of reviewers should have done is request the EIA consultants to submit an addendum to the DEIA based on the comments submitted. The additional information provided by the consultants should have been exhibited for members of the public to review and submit their comments.

Now that the DEIA has been approved, the onus is on the Penang State Government to decide whether to approve the project. Will the State consider the plight of the environment and affected people or will profit for a private company take precedence? Who would pay the cost for loss of income of fishers, permanent destruction to the coastal zone and marine resources due to the project activities and subsequent impacts?

The loss to environmental services is monumental whilst the public would have to suffer the consequences. Hence, we call on the Penang State government to seriously consider the environmental and societal costs of this proposed project and thus not approve the STP2 project proposal.