Kuala lumpur: The Penang state government will make a final decision regarding the proposed landfill site rehabilitation project in Jelutong and the land reclamation project at Persiaran Karpal Singh if the concession company fails to obtain the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval within the deadline to be set.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow stated that the state government will give a final deadline to the concession company to meet the stipulated conditions before any decision is made regarding the continuation of the project. He emphasized that if the company cannot secure the EIA approval within the specified period, the project will not be extended and will not continue under that company.
Chow made these remarks while speaking to reporters after attending the Jelajah CM Chow programme at the Masjid Jamek Kebun Sireh grounds. Also present at the event was the State Social Development, Welfare and Non-Islamic Affairs Committee chairman Lim Siew Khim. The Department of Environment (DOE) had previously rejected the EIA report on the project, halting its implementation.
Chow, who is also Batu Kawan Member of Parliament, noted that correspondence between the state government and the concession company is ongoing, with the company having submitted feedback on the decision previously conveyed by the state government. However, he refrained from disclosing the final extension period, stating it would be announced later.
The previous state government had granted five extensions to allow the company to meet the requirements set by the DOE to obtain the EIA approval. Chow highlighted that additional conditions imposed over time have been among the constraints faced by the company. Despite the numerous extensions, he indicated that it's time for the state government to make a decision, as new conditions may take time to fulfill and may not be easy to comply with.
Chow expressed the state government's desire to resolve the issue promptly and emphasized the need to carry out restoration work at the landfill site. When asked about the possibility of appointing another company if the existing company fails to meet the EIA requirements, he asserted that the state government would consider suitable alternatives.
The proposed RM1 billion project involves the rehabilitation of the former 34-hectare Jelutong landfill site, which has been closed, and the reclamation of the sea area adjacent to Persiaran Karpal Singh. The project was awarded to PLB Engineering Bhd through a joint development agreement signed in 2020 involving the Penang Development Corporation (PDC), the state government, and the company.