A proposed artificial island off Tanjung Tokong involving the reclamation of 760 acres of land is making waves among the local NGOs which want the Penang government to show how this massive development would benefit Penangites.

At a press conference yesterday, a network of 14 local NGOs including prominent ones such as Aliran and Malaysian Nature Society said the project - called Sri Tanjung Pinang 2 (STP2) - will have an adverse impact on the environment and will affect the livelihood of 470 fisherfolk in the area as well as causing traffic congestion.

The STP2 is expected to boost the island’s population by 202,500 - a 30 percent jump in Penang island's population.

The NGOs are also unhappy that Phase I of the project, involving 980 acres of land reclamation, only had a preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) without public participation and was approved internally by the Department of Environment (DOE).

“In the name of transparency and accountability, the detailed EIA should have been conducted by independent consultants rather than ones appointed by the project proponent,” said the Penang Forum.

“Even the peer review was done by a foreign consultant employed by the (project) proponent. He might not be fully cognisant of local fisheries resources and the livelihood of the people affected,” the NGO added.

Penang Forum steering committee member Leong Yueh Kwong ( left ) said it is still premature to say whether the project should be stopped.

However, Leong urged the Penang government to address the concerns over the project highlighted by the NGOs.

“They should appoint an independent review panel to review Phase I of the STP first to see what went wrong and how can we learn from it,” said Leong, an ecologist.

“Although the DOE is the (federal) department which decides whether the Detailed Impact Environmental Assessment (DEIA) report can be accepted, ultimately it is the state government that approves the commencement of the reclamation works,” Leong added.

STP2 involves new piece of land

It is uncertain if NGO protests against STP2 would be on the same scale as the opposition to the Penang Global City Centre in 2007 and Penang Outer Ring Road before the 2004 polls which were eventually shelved by the previous BN government, which some say contributed to its loss in support in the 2008 general election.

Malaysian Nature Society Penang branch adviser D Kanda Kumar ( left ) said the NGOs are concerned about Phase II of the project as it involves reclamation works on a new piece of land, unlike the two previous projects which were related to development in open spaces.

“Since the state government has an interest here - where it is involved in a 100- acre land swap deal with the company that is planning to build the tunnel (or third link between island and mainland) - it is more crucial for the developer to appoint an independent consultant to conduct the DEIA,” he added.

Kanda is not in favour of Penang emulating Hong Kong in its development approach.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had argued that if Hong Kong could have three undersea tunnels besides its many bridges, then Penang should have at least one tunnel, which he claimed is better for the environment than bridges.

“We should build Penang in its own way as the pace and lifestyle here is slower although we continue to be the second richest state in Malaysia,” he added.