GEORGE TOWN, June 9 ― The Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project will not begin until the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIA) is approved, state executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow said today.

The Penang lawmaker stressed that the Pakatan Harapan state government will not flout any laws to push the reclamation project ahead, "unlike Kedah and the rest of Malaysia”.

"We will not start the reclamation project until the EIA is approved and until the National Land Council approves it,” he told reporters after visiting one of the counters in Komtar where the PSR EIA Report is on public display.

The PSR EIA Report, on display at 12 locations and three websites from May 24 to June 23, is to obtain public feedback in accordance with the EIA guidelines under the provisions of Section 34A (2c) of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 and the Environmental Quality (Prescribed Activities) (Environmental Impact Assessment) Order 2015.

"In compliance with the EIA guidelines, the state government and the EIA consultant will respond to the Department of Environment (DOE) on all the written comments received from the public.

"We will submit the responses to DOE headquarters for review and it will be included in the final EIA report for the project,” Chow said.

Chow said the PSR, which is to create three new islands off the southern coast of Penang island, is a project owned by the Penang government.

"It aims to transform Penang into a world-class Tate and it will see the creation of a new growth hub in the south,” he said.

The PSR, which is also to fund the RM27 billion Penang Transport Master Plan, is also to spur economic growth, provide sufficient housing and create more jobs by attracting more foreign direct investments with a Smart City ecosystem.

"We hope more people will drop by any of the 12 locations to give their comments and feedback on the PSR EIA Report,” he said.

Chow said so far, the number of people visiting the public displays have been encouraging.

"On our state government's website, we have recorded 6,000 to 7,000 views for the PSR EIA Report but we are not sure about the other two websites,” he said.

The PSR EIA Report is now on display at the Penang Public Library in Seberang Jaya, Administrative Complex on Level Three in Komtar, City Hall in Penang, Seberang Perai Municipal Council in Bandar Perda, Southern Seberang Perai Land and District Office, Teluk Kumbar Police Station, Pusat Perkhidmatan Setempat Nelayan in Gertak Sanggul, Pusat Perkhidmatan Setempat Nelayan in Permatang Damar Laut, DOE Penang in Kepala Batas, DOE Bayan Lepas in Krystal Point Corporate Park, National Library of Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur and DOE library in Putrajaya.

The report is also accessible on three websites, doe.gov.my, penang.gov.my and drnik.com.my. All written feedback must be submitted before July 7.