Penang govt to decide on Jelutong landfill project after developer’s reply

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government will make a decision on the proposed Jelutong landfill rehabilitation project after receiving a response from the concessionaire to recommendations put forward by the state.

Chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said executive councillor H’ng Mooi Lye met with representatives from PLB Engineering Bhd last week to convey the state government’s recommendations on the project.

“The firm needs to respond (to our recommendations) by the coming week. Once they have responded, we (state government) will announce our decision,” he told a press conference after PBA Holdings Bhd’s 26th annual general meeting here today.

On June 9, Chow said the state government would obtain feedback and a report from the environment department before deciding on the proposed landfill rehabilitation and sea reclamation project at Karpal Singh Drive.

The project has drawn criticism from nearby residents, who have raised concerns about its potential impact on the environment and community.

Residents’ group Protect Karpal Singh Drive has repeatedly urged the state government to honour its earlier assurance that no further extensions would be granted to PLB Engineering after its environmental impact assessment (EIA) report was rejected for a fifth time.

H’ng previously said the project had not been cancelled despite the rejection of the EIA report, adding that the state considered it important due to long-standing safety and pollution issues at the former landfill site.

Separately, Chow said the governments of Penang and Perak are expected to sign an agreement on the Sungai Perak water supply project by next week after concluding negotiations on tariff rates and other technical matters.