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 by the Department of Environment.
The Board of Directors of Eastern & Oriental Berhad (E & O) said that its subsidiary, Tanjung Pinang Development Sdn Bhd, on 11 April 2014 received the conditional approval letter from the DOE.
Besides CAP and SAM, other civil society organizations 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.
[mappress]
Press Release, May 1, 2014