BATU KAWAN: The Penang South Islands (PSI) project will only be approved if it meets the stringent requirements of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIA), says Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
The Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister said the decision by the Environment Department (DOE) to reject the project’s previous EIA report proved that the PSI did not get special treatment although it has the backing of the state government.
“The PSI project has undergone a comprehensive process in terms of the EIA report and taking into account the first EIA report that was approved on June 25, 2019, before an appeal was lodged and the EIA cancelled, a new EIA was presented on April 29 last year.
“When the DOE did not agree with certain matters in that EIA, three more submissions were made separately in August and October last year, as well as on Jan 18, whereby it is still under evaluation by the DOE,” he said after launching Our Nature Carnival at the Batu Kawan Stadium here yesterday.
Nik Nazmi said the process is being carried out in a complete and detailed manner and the latest EIA report would be scrutinised by the DOE in the next few months before deciding if the project would be approved or not.
He said any matters arising would be presented to the project movers and Penang State Economic Planning Division, Bernama reported.
“The developers must also provide the Environment Management Plan and take action against the recommendations stipulated in the EIA report should the project be approved,” he added.
The PSI project covers an area of almost 17 sq km involving the development of three artificial islands with an area of 1,700ha in the waters of Permatang Damar Laut near Bayan Lepas, but it received objections from the fishing community and NGOs in the state.
