KUALA LUMPUR: The Dewan Rakyat was today told that six people will sit on the Appeals Board under the Department of Environment (DOE) to hear appeals by quarters opposing the proposed Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project.
Environment and Water Minister Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said at the moment, the DOE was waiting for the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) to gazette the appointment of the members who will sit on the Appeals Board.
Tuan Ibrahim said the DOE had received a notice of appeal from one Zakaria Ismail, who was representing 185 fishermen, through his lawyer on July 29 last year to appeal against the implementation of the PSR project.
"They are among 4,500 fishermen who opposed the implementation of the project," he said.
He was responding to a supplementary question from Tuan Che Alias Hamid (Pas-Kemaman) who had asked on the status of the Appeals Board.
Tuan Ibrahim said the project developer could not begin any work on the site until the DOE approved the EMP on the PSR project. The EMP, he said, is one of the 72 conditions under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
"The project has not started or postponed since it did not receive the approval (from the Federal Government)," he said.
Earlier, Tuan Ibrahim told the Dewan Rakyat that the ministry received many objections on the implementation of the project from various stakeholders including fishermen and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
"We also received many memorandums of objections on the project.
"Concern was raised that the development of the PSR project will result in the permanent destruction and residual impact of the mud flood ecosystem as well as fish and turtle landing sites," he said.
To another supplementary question, Tuan Ibrahim also assured that the ministry would be professional when evaluating the EMP on the PSR project.
"I agree that the project has the economic potential as raised by Bukit Bendera (Wong Hon Wai-DAP)
"However, as the ministry tasked in protecting the environment, we are looking into the impact of the project towards the environment.
"We must also take into consideration that the mega project involves a site of 4,500 acres (1,821ha) and I am sure the impact (towards the environment) would be massive," he said.
