GEORGE TOWN — The proposed land reclamation along Karpal Singh Drive waterfront that is linked to the rehabilitation of the nearby Jelutong landfill ought to be debated in the Penang assembly given mounting concerns about its environmental impact, residents of the area said.
A residents’ group called the Protect Karpal Singh Drive action committee (ProtectKarpal) fear that the pollution impact from reclamation will stretch beyond the waterfront.
“We want this matter to be raised in a state legislative assembly session to figure out what is the proper way to solve this matter, said AD Chandrasekaran, the action committee’s chairman, at a briefing today.
“We want to let the state government know about (the impacts and learn about) what they can do for us (residents).
“We are not looking to gain anything from (our actions), but we just want to protect this area for our children, grandchildren and the elderly,” said Chandrasekaran, at the briefing which was held for residents at Pinang Court 2 Apartment near Karpal Singh Drive, here.
The Penang government, through the Penang Development Corporation (PDC), signed a deal with Perai-based PLB Engineering Bhd in 2020 to rehabilitate and redevelop the Jelutong landfill, which currently juts into the sea near Karpal Singh Drive. The project includes plans to reclaim part of the nearby coastline to transform the site into prime real estate, with commercial and recreational spaces.
Jelutong MP RSN Rayer, who was also present at the briefing session, said that he will raise residents’ concerns with Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and the state executive committee again, having done so recently after a meeting with Protect Karpal on April 12.
The parliamentarian also said he wanted to to know the extent of the reclamation project’s impact on the area, and to verify reports that PLB Engineering would rope in China Railway Engineering Corp (M) Sdn Bhd (CRECM), the Malaysian unit of Chinese company China Railway Group Ltd, to undertake the landfill rehabilitation works.
“We (Penang) always practice the system of competency, accountability and transparency (CAT) and we are still holding on to the policy.
“I would like to know more about this agreement (such as) the terms of the agreement, and the plans for the reclamation,” Rayer told the residents at the briefing.
Environmental, health concerns
Previously, concerns were voiced about the reclamation project’s impact on Middle Bank, a seagrass meadow in the Penang Strait.
At the briefing today, residents and the ProtectKarpal group raised their concerns about the environmental and health impacts from the plan to host waste management and recycling facilities on the reclaimed land.
Committee member Ng Tien Eng, spoke about the risk of noise and dust pollution that would take place during the period of reclamation works, which would be detrimental to the well-being of the residents in nearby housing areas.
Committee treasurer Dr. K. Ganesh, who is also a general practitioner, spoke about the emissions risks of carcinogenic dioxin from trash recycling works, which could affect liver, immunity and fetal development.
“The developers can give a lot of assurances that they will undertake mitigation measures on paper. But in reality, we know that this thing (pollution) will happen due to man’s carelessness or mechanical breakdowns, like gas leakages.
“Regardless of guarantees given, I don’t think that we can accept them,” he added.
The action committee also wants Chow and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to reject the proposed reclamation for these reasons, besides the damage it would pose to the nearby Middle Bank marine ecosystem. – April 27, 2025.