GEORGE TOWN: Sungai Batu Fishermen Association has filed an application to challenge the Environmental Impact Assessment’s (EIA) approval of the Penang Southern Reclamation (PSR) project.
The application was made to the Appeals Board of the Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Ministry whose key agency — the Department of Environment (DOE) — had earlier granted conditional EIA approval for the project.
Its public interest lawyer Meenakshi Raman said the application was recent and it is awaiting for a date for its hearing. The forum is an umbrella body of several civil societies in Penang.
The reclamation involves creating three islands, totalling some 4,000ha in reclaimed land off the Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas.
In another development, Penang Ummah has planned a rally to protest the project. It will be held at Permatang Dasar Laut from 1pm to 5pm.
Its organisation chairman Mohd Akhir Che Mat said the protest is necessary after the submission of memorandums and a protest outside Parliament had fallen on deaf ears.
Ummah is the coordinating body for about 40 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Penang, that are active in religious and socio-economic activities. “We expect up to 5,000 people at the rally,“ he said at a press conference.
Akhir said Ummah would support a transport masterplan that doesn’t involve reclaiming more land and huge investing in infrastructure. “We do not want to end up burdening future generations with public debts,“ he added.
