The Department of Environment (DoE) is expected to give its decision on the new Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the Penang South Islands (PSI) project after the technical meeting next month.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the DoE was expected to make its decision after the meeting.

“The meeting will enable DoE to examine all technical reviews and observe all compliances from each agency in the EIA Evaluation Technical Committee.”

It was reported by an English daily that the EIA Evaluation Technical Committee is made up of agencies such as PLANMalaysia, Fisheries Department, Health Department, Irrigation and Drainage Department, Minerals and Geosciences Department, Malaysian Marine Department, Public Works Department, Town and Country Planning Department, Penang Port Commission, individuals appointed with specific expertise, as well as non-governmental organisations.

“This is the final stage before the DoE makes its decision. We had three meetings to discuss the technical reviews in the past. The latest was recent,” Chow replied to a journalist after presenting financial aid to Tamil kindergarten and primary schools as well as Punjabi schools in Penang on Thursday. The aid presentation ceremony was held in Komtar. A total of RM2.39 million was allocated for 28 Tamil schools, 19 Tamil kindergartens, three Punjabi schools, and the special fund of the Tamil school special committee.

Commenting on the PSI project, Chow reiterated that the state would not proceed with its implementation without the EIA approval.

“This has always been our stand and we are sticking to it. The process of obtaining the EIA approval has also been taking a long time,” he said.

The EIA report for the PSI was approved in 2019, before the approval was reversed by the Appeal Board on Sept 8, 2021.

It was reported by an English daily that the Appeal Board’s basis for reversing the approval was because of the contradictions with Section 34A(4) of the Environmental Quality Act 1974, related to development zoning that had not been approved by the Penang state authority at that time. The state government has submitted an updated and more comprehensive EIA report for approval in March last year.

The PSI project off the southern coast of Penang island involves the reclamation and development of three islands covering 1,820ha – namely Island A (930ha), Island B (566ha) and Island C (324ha).

It is designed to fund the Penang Transport Master Plan, which includes the Pan Island Link and Bayan Lepas Light Rail Transit. The PSI project is also seen as a Penang Economic Transformation project, with the aim of creating a robust international service and manufacturing hub.

Chow said the process of obtaining the EIA approval for the PSI was very comprehensive.

“I am not sure if there is any project or state that must go through such a process.

“This (process) can be a ‘model’ for DoE to look at… how the EIA was prepared, and with all the input from the technical agencies.

“We have complied with the requirements of the technical agencies. As long as there are requirements imposed, we comply. That is our principle.

“And I believe a decision can be made by the DoE after the meeting in March,” he said.

Chow said conditional approval (if granted) is normal.

“Usually, approval will come with conditions to comply… before, during and after the implementation of a project,” he added.

Source: Buletin Mutiara

Proposed development by TID Development Sdn. Bhd. (a subsidiary of Tambun Indah) near Kota Permai in Bukit Mertajam. Strategically located near Jalan Kota Permai, just a few minutes’ walk to SJKC Beng Teik. It is neighboring with an abundance of amenities and easily accessible via Jalan Song Ban Kheng.

This development will feature 75 units of 2-storey terrace houses, to be completed in two phases. Adjacent to Residency Permai gated and guarded housing scheme by the same company.

The project is still pending approval. More details to be available upon official launch.

Project Name : (to be confirmed)
Location : Bukit Mertajam
Property Type : Residential
Tenure: (to be confirmed)
Built-up Size: (to be confirmed)
Total Units: 75
Indicative Price : (to be confirmed)
Developer : TID Development Sdn. Bhd.

About Wellspring Residences

A high-rise residential development by Airmas Group in Butterworth. Located near Jalan Telaga Air, next to Telaga Emas Apartment by the same company. It is about 500 meters away from the ever-bustling Jalan Raja Uda, and only a 5 minutes drive to Penang Sentral. This development comprises a 21-storey condominium, featuring 144 residential units with built-up sizes ranging from 1,070 sq.ft. – 1,260 sq.ft.

Find out more about Wellspring Residences

The construction on Priority One (Phase One) of the Gurney Wharf project has reached the 50 per cent completion mark.

State Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said the Priority One would be completed in May instead of March this year after some delay due to factors beyond their control.

When the whole project is completed in 2025, Jagdeep said it is going to become the icon of Malaysia.

“We have two phases, Priority One and Priority Two, going on at the same time. The laying of topsoil has almost been done in some areas in Priority One.

“There are many components that are moving at a rapid pace. The state government is committed to ensuring the project is delivered.

“The most important thing is that this facility is for the benefit of the people.

“It is a green lung, which is part and parcel of our Penang 2030 vision. We will be a family-focused, green and smart state,” Jagdeep told a press conference when he visited the site this morning to monitor the status of the project.

He said some components might be added after looking at Priority One and Priority Two, adding that an announcement would be made after discussions with relevant stakeholders.

The ground-breaking ceremony of the RM200 million project was done on May 14, 2022. Over 131 acres of land had been reclaimed, of which 40 acres would be used for public facilities.

Priority One will have facilities such as a children’s playground, skate park, viewing deck (south vantage point), public toilets, pedestrian promenade, trader’s kiosks, recreational park, landscape areas and open space car parks.

Under Priority Tow, the features include additional landscaping areas, more recreational parks, a hawker centre, a viewing deck (north vantage point), public toilets, more trader’s kiosks, multi-storey car parks, open space car parks, a beach area and boardwalk, water garden and the drainage system.

Among others present at the press conference were Chief Minister Incorporated deputy general manager Datin S. Bharathi, JKR civil engineer Goh Kiet Rhee, consultants, architects and contractors.

Goh said they would work very hard to meet the dateline for Priority One and hoped that everyone involved with work hand in hand.

Source: Buletin Mutiara

The Local Government Development Ministry has announced a RM23 million allocation for the redevelopment of the Bukit Mertajam market, which was gutted in a fire nearly a decade ago.

Minister Nga Kor Ming said works will begin this year and slated for completion by 2026.

He said the redevelopment would be divided into five components — redevelopment of the market place at RM8 million, multi-storey carpark (RM8.5 million), infrastructure upgrade (RM5 million), temporary market place (RM500,000) and the Bukit Mertajam creative centre (RM1 million). For a start, he said, the ministry had approved RM1 million for initial works.

“This market place was built back in the 1960s and razed in a fire in February 2014. It is now in disrepair.

“This follows requests by the Bukit Mertajam member of parliament Steven Sim and state Local Government Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo. The federal government is committed to redeveloping the market and has approved RM23 million for the five components.

“We are not talking about developing it just into another market place, but something similar to Kuala Lumpur’s Central Market, where traders can also sell their creative products there.

“We want to breathe new life to this place and turn it into an icon for Bukit Mertajam. It’s a neighbourhood place where both locals and tourists alike can come together to benefit from this redevelopment project,” he said during a visit to the market this morning.

This was Nga’s maiden working visit to Penang after being appointed as the Local Government Development Ministry. The market serves a population of about 240,000 in the area.

It was previously reported that the supermarket was gutted in a predawn fire in early February 2014. The top floor of the two-storey building in Jalan Pasar was home to the town’s oldest wet market and oldest supermarket. The supermarket was a historical building and had been a symbol of Bukit Mertajam for decades.

Meanwhile, Nga said a competition would also be held where the best design will be used for the redevelopment of the Bukit Mertajam market.

Source: NST Online