Two local NGOs are totally against the Seri Tanjung Pinang development in Tanjung Tokong, which includes the creation of two artificial islands.

 

The Consumer Association of Penang and Sahabat Alam Malaysia jointly said they want the project, which is in Phase 2 of its development plan, to be scrapped.

 

CAP president SM Mohamed Idris said the NGOS have submitted their objections to the Department of Environment on March 6, along with input from staff scientists from the Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (Elaw), a US-based NGO.

 

The Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (DEIA) of the proposed project was exhibited for public view until March 14.

 

Asked if the NGOS would work with the Penang Forum - a loose coalition of local groups including Aliran and the Malaysian Nature Society - to pressure the state to stop the project, Idris said: "No, we have different views. We cannot work together".

The Penang Forum l ast week said it is not yet calling for the project to be scrapped but that it wants an independent review done on the area.

 

But to Idris, the project dubbed STP2 (Seri Tanjung Pinang Phase 2) is "grandiose", is not justified and comes at a price in terms of its adverse impact on the environment, mainly from the loss of coastal resources.

"The appraisal process to justify the project tends to overstate the benefits and understate the costs," he added.

On-going projects not considered

Idris said the project is being justified to relieve growth pressure and scarcity of land but the DEIA failed to consider and include all other on-going projects in the state.

 

The DEIA should have included data on current number of housing units on the island and state, on-going housing development projects, and those which have been given planning permission by local authorities, before justifying the STP2, he added.

The proposed STP2 by Tanjung Pinang Development Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of E&O Property Development Berhad is carrying out a reclamation covering 760 acres.

It also involves the creation of two man-made islands, which requires about 33.1 million cubic metres of sand or fill material and two million tonnes of rock.

Idris said the impact of the reclamation project for Phase I should have been assessed before proposing development for Phase 2.

 

He added that the DEIA had also shown numerous ways Phase 2 would impact fisheries, including impacts from release of sediment during dredging and permanent smothering of mudflats and other environments that support local fisheries.

 

However, he challenged the DEIA, saying it contains an "unfounded claim" that Phase 2 of the project would improve water quality.

 

"Extending a drain and ensuring better flushing does facilitate water flow but this argument sounds like dilution is the solution to pollution," Idris said.

 

"Better water flow does not address the quantity of contaminants and solid waste entering the waterways and in fact more development substantially increases the likelihood that the qualities of the waste streams will be higher," he added.