GEORGE TOWN: A non-governmental organisation (NGO) has called on the Penang state government to come clean about a proposal for a 121 hectares land reclamation project.
Citizen Awareness Chant Group (Chant) legal adviser Yan Lee said he was tipped off by a highly placed source that the project would involve creation of an island off the coast of Tanjung Bungah.
“The graphics of the proposal shows that the project will start near the floating mosque in Tanjung Bungah and go further north to the Shang-ri La’s Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa in Batu Ferringhi.
“We were told that at least 300 acres would be reclaimed from this area. Our question to the chief minister (Chow Kon Yeow), can the government please be transparent and reveal whether there is such a proposal and is the state government considering this project?
“What is the reclamation for and is it also to fund the Penang Transport Master Plan?” he asked in a press conference today.
Lee also shared pictures allegedly of the developers' proposal to the state government, which says the island and the shorefront reclamation would result in “world-class luxury hotels and resorts, wellness centre, private institution, apartments, and floating villas.”
Lee also asked State Local Government chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo whether the proposed reclamation project was to combat climate change.
He said this was because Jagdeep had previously stated that the Penang South Reclamation project, which will see three islands measuring about 1,800 hectares created off the southwestern tip of the island, was to combat climate change.
“Jagdeep is a brilliant lawyer, would appreciate if he and the state government can engage a climatologist to advise on this. The rakyat (people) are concerned,” he said.
Meanwhile, when contacted Chow said he would answer the matter during the State Legislative Assembly sitting, which starts this Friday.