GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government has agreed to scale down the Penang South Island (PSI) reclamation project by 49 per cent by not proceeding with the construction of 'Island B' and 'Island C'.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said this was despitte the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIA) for the PSI project approved by the Department of the Environment (DOE), through a letter dated April 11,2023, covered three islands, involving a total area 4,500 acres.
He said the decision was made in response to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's request for the state government to scale down the project.
"Silicon Island (Island A), covering 2,300 acres, will be implemented in two phases within 10 to 15 years for reclamation work, while reclamation work for Island B, covering 1,400 acres and Island C (800 acres) will not proceed," he told a press conference here today.
PSI involves the development of three artificial islands, with an area of 1,800ha, in the waters off Permatang Damar Laut, near Bayan Lepas.
However, the project received objections from the fishing community and environmental non-governmental organisations in the state because it was alleged that the project would damage the marine ecosystem in the area.
Chow said it was also decided that Silicon Island will remain as a light rail transit (LRT) depot site, involving 60 acres, while the Green Tech Park (GTP) and Heart of the Island (HOTI) components will be maintained as an economic catalyst and new tourism product, respectively, for the state.
Chow said reclamation for the first phase of Silicon Island involving 1,300 acres, including the LRT depot site, which is expected to take seven to 10 years to complete, would not have any impact on the lives of fishermen.
The second phase will cover an area of 1,000 acres, he said, adding that reclamation for Silicon Island, including the 'topside' part, would take 20 years.
He said the scaling down of the project would directly affect only 115 fishermen from the Permatang Tepi Laut compared to 496 people who would be affected by the reclamation for all three islands.
- MORE
"With this latest development, the Social Impact Management Plan (SIMP) scheme for the affected fishermen will be discussed in detail in the fishermen task force committee meeting to be chaired by Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman," he said.
Chow said changes to the project will not result in any loss to the state government or the Project Delivery Partner (PDP) SRS Consortium because both parties had only signed an agreement for Island A.
According to SRS Consortium project director Szeto Wai Loong, the cost of reclamation and basic facilities of Silicon Island is expected to be about RM8.5 billion, whereby the company will create land parcels and auction them to the highest bidder.
The successful bidder will develop the land, he said.
Meanhwhile, Chow said the state government and SRS Consortium will not be involved in the development of the land site.
On May 6, Anwar announced that the federal government would allocate additional allocation to help the Penang government expedite the proposed George Town- Bayan Lepas light rail transit (LRT) project.
The prime minister also asked the Penang government to scale down the project.
--BERNAMA
Bernama
Thu May 11 2023
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the Penang government has agreed to scale down the Penang South Island (PSI) reclamation project by 49 per cent by not proceeding with the construction of 'Island B' and 'Island C'. File picture by BERNAMA
Anggota tentera meninggal dunia selepas acara larian
Allahyarham Staf Sarjan Mohd Irfan Faizal Ismail, 41, meninggal dunia ketika mendapat rawatan di hospital kira-kira jam 10.25 malam.
Blockout 2024: 'Semua pihak jangan ambil tindakan ekstrem' - Menteri agama
Semua pihak diseru supaya tidak mengambil tindakan ekstrem termasuk memfitnah, mencaci dan mengugut dalam menunjukkan tanda solidariti kepada rakyat Palestin.
Kolaborasi negara pesat membangun perlu diperkukuh, sokong ekonomi - Anwar
Kolaborasi antara negara sedang pesat membangun perlu diperkukuh agar dapat menyokong pertumbuhan ekonomi masing-masing dalam kalangan negara yang terlibat, kata Anwar.
Projek naik taraf Jalan Persekutuan FT3210 Hulu Langat manfaat 52,000 pengguna
Projek menaik taraf Jalan Persekutuan FT3210 dari Jalan Dato Alias ke persimpangan Batu 9, Hulu Langat yang dijangka siap pertengahan 2026.
EPL: VAR singkirkan keseronokan dalam bola sepak - Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney, berharap agar Liga Perdana Inggeris (EPL) tidak lagi menggunakan teknologi Video Bantuan Pengadil (VAR) dalam saingan liga musim depan.
Pemancing hilang di Empangan Tasik Pedu ditemui lemas
Mayat pemancing yang dipercayai lemas di Empangan Tasik Pedu, dekat Kuala Nerang pada Khamis lepas ditemui hari ini.
Harimau Malaya bakal uji kekuatan Indonesia?
Harimau Malaya dijangkakan akan menguji kekuatan Indonesia dalam satu perlawanan persahabatan sebelum bermulanya saingan Piala ASEAN 2024 nanti.
Taman Eko Rimba KL berpotensi jadi tarikan pelancong - Nik Nazmi
Taman Eko Rimba Kuala Lumpur (TERKL) di Bukit Nenas berpotensi untuk dibangun dan dipromosikan sebagai satu lagi tarikan di ibu kota, kata Menteri Sumber Asli dan Kelestarian Alam Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
Arsenal tidak akan menjadi juara liga - Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo, berkongsi pendapatnya dengan menjelaskan bahawa Arsenal tidak akan menjadi juara Liga Perdana Inggeris (EPL).
[TERKINI] KKM pantau lonjakan kes COVID-19 di Singapura
Kementerian Kesihatan (KKM) sedang memantau dengan teliti trajektori gelombang peningkatan dua kali ganda kes COVID-19 yang dilaporkan oleh Singapura baru-baru ini.
Gaji penjawat awam: Pulau Pinang selaras kenaikan gaji ikut kerajaan Persekutuan
Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang sedia menaikkan gaji penjawat awam di negeri itu selaras keputusan kerajaan Persekutuan.
PM Anwar hadir Majlis Sambutan Aidilfitri Madani 2024 Pulau Pinang
Perdana Menteri menghadiri Majlis Sambutan Aidilfitri Madani 2024 Peringkat Pulau Pinang di Tapak Pesta Sungai Nibong, George Town.
Pulau Pinang umum pelan untuk Taman Reka Bentuk IC dan digital
Kerajaan negeri Pulau Pinang mengumumkan pelannya untuk mewujudkan Taman Reka Bentuk Litar Bersepadu (IC) dan Digital.
Pulau Pinang mahu perbanyak kedai makan mesra muslim
Kerajaan Pulau Pinang berhasrat memperbanyakkan kemudahan terutama kedai makan mesra Muslim bagi memperkasakan lagi industri pelancongan di negeri ini.
Nahas helikopter: Pulau Pinang sedia bantu keluarga Muhammad Firdaus
Chow tidak memperinci bentuk bantuan yang bakal disalur namun memberitahu akan melawat keluarga Allahyarham di Pantai Jerejak hari ini.
Paras air Empangan Air Itam di tahap ketiga kritikal - Chow
Paras takungan air di Empangan Air Itam dikesan mencecah tahap ketiga kritikal dengan bacaan 30.8 peratus hari ini.
Tradisi rumah terbuka wadah menyatukan rakyat - Chow
Penganjuran rumah terbuka disifatkan sebagai wadah dalam menyatupadukan rakyat berbilang kaum seterusnya berupaya mengukuhkan perpaduan ke arah mewujudkan masyarakat yang harmoni.
MBPP mandulkan 6,046 anjing liar di Pulau Pinang
Selain TNR, Kerajaan Pulau Pinang juga mengamalkan polisi tidak memusnahkan anjing liar yang ditangkap melainkan ia sakit tenat.
Projek lebuh raya bertingkat, air Perak-P.Pinang dalam perbincangan - Chow
Projek Lebuhraya Bertingkat Juru-Sungai Dua dan Projek Air Perak-Pulau Pinang, kini dalam peringkat perbincangan melibatkan pelbagai kementerian Kerajaan Persekutuan, kata Ketua Menteri Chow Kon Yeow.
Boleh perluas teksi air jika dapat sambutan - Chow
Perkhidmatan teksi air boleh diperluaskan ke Seberang Perai sekiranya pelaksanaan pengangkutan itu di bahagian Pulau mendapat sambutan menggalakkan.