Penang open to renegotiating Karpal Singh Drive reclamation project
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow stated that the state remains committed to adhering to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process before making any final decisions.
Chow clarified that the public engagement session concluded on June 30, and the developer must address all concerns before proceeding. The project developer has until February next year to secure EIA approval.
'If approval is not granted, the project may not proceed. If approved, we are open to reviewing implementation methods to minimise environmental impact,' he said after officiating a new public market and hawker centre in Bandar Cassia.
The ProtectKarpal group, consisting mainly of Karpal Singh Drive residents, raised objections regarding construction methods and environmental risks. They also urged the gazetting of the nearby Middle Bank as a marine sanctuary due to its ecological significance.
Chow acknowledged these concerns, stating the state government is open to discussions despite an existing agreement between the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) and the developer.
'Adjusting the project scale may require compromises, particularly in land allocation, but balancing development and sustainability is crucial,' he added. The RM1 billion Jelutong landfill redevelopment, initiated in 2020, remains under scrutiny as environmental assessments continue.
Meanwhile, the RM46 million Bandar Cassia public market and hawker centre project is set for completion by June 2027. - Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
6 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Asyraf serves RM1mil legal notice on Papagomo over alleged slander
KUALA LUMPUR: Mara chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki today served a letter of demand on Wan Muhammad Azri, better known as Papagomo, over allegations that he had abused his power and misappropriated agency funds. In a Facebook post, Asyraf said the notice was delivered by his lawyer to Wan Azri at his residence at 2.15pm today. "Enough of the culture of hateful politics and baseless slander. We must instil a sense of responsibility for one's words and actions. "Even if one has no fear of consequences in this world, may there still be some fear of Allah's punishment for spreading lies. "See you in court!" he wrote in the post. Earlier, Asyraf, who is also Umno secretary-general, had announced in a video post that he would be filing a RM1 million lawsuit against Wan Azri for defamation. He also refuted claims that he had awarded Mara food supply contracts and other projects to UMNO division leaders, or used agency funds for the recent sacrificial slaughter in Gerik in conjunction with Aidiladha. He said that not a single sen of Mara money was used for the religious ritual. "Instead, many individuals came forward to donate as a charitable act for the people of Gerik. One of the sacrificial cows was my personal contribution to the local Mara office," he said.
The Sun
8 hours ago
- The Sun
US tariffs pose ‘economic earthquake' for SMEs
KUALA LUMPUR: The Small and Medium Enterprises Association (Samenta) views the 25% tariff imposed by the US on Malaysian exports as a serious threat to the country's trade competitiveness and industrial base, especially for export-oriented SMEs that form the backbone of the domestic manufacturing ecosystem. Samenta national president Datuk William Ng said the new US tariff is the equivalent of an 'economic earthquake' for domestic SMEs that are significantly exposed to the US market. He said Samenta has consistently pointed out that Malaysia's headline economic growth often masks deeper structural weaknesses within the SME sector. 'The real paradox is our ability to register macro-level gains while most SMEs remain trapped in low-margin, low-scale operations – squeezed by rising costs, regulatory pressures, and now, geopolitical shocks. 'The imposition of US tariffs is a stark reminder of the urgent need to recalibrate our economic model to prioritise the long-term viability and competitiveness of our 1.5 million SMEs, with the creative and service economy at the heart of it,' he said. Ng stated that Samenta is fully committed to collaborating with the government to provide support to all SMEs, whether directly or indirectly impacted by the tariff. 'We acknowledge the government's continued pursuit of a 'balanced and mutually beneficial' trade resolution with Washington, but we need urgent and coordinated action to cushion the impact on impacted SMEs. 'Samenta is hopeful that the government will expedite the roll-out of previously announced targeted support measures, particularly the RM1 billion increase in SJPP guarantees, RM500 million in soft loans via development financial institutions, and the RM50 million boost to Matrade. 'These initiatives must be delivered quickly and with minimal red tape,' he said in a statement. Ng said more importantly, these relief measures must be extended to domestic, non-exporting businesses. The anticipated tailwinds from subdued exports and weaker domestic demand will affect the services sector in equal intensity, he said. 'In particular, we urge the government to pause all new and planned cost increases on SMEs, including the proposed rationalisation of petrol subsidy and incremental fees proposed by various agencies and local councils. 'As labour shortages remain one of the most pressing challenges, particularly in the services sector, we urge the government to urgently review and ease restrictions on the hiring of foreign workers in sectors such as food services, tourism, and logistics. 'With our export momentum set to face headwinds, supporting our service-based SMEs to absorb the slack will be crucial in maintaining our economic resilience,' Ng said.
Free Malaysia Today
8 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Proposed Penang water tariff revision still pending SPAN approval
The National Water Services Commission said it received applications from operators from 10 states to review tariff rates. PETALING JAYA : The National Water Services Commission (SPAN) has yet to approve the Penang Water Supply Corporation's (PBAPP) application for a proposed revision of water tariffs in the state. SPAN said that as of June 30, it has received applications to review water tariffs from PBAPP and operators in nine other states. The other states are Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor and Pahang. 'All applications are under review and no decisions have been made,' SPAN said in a statement. The commission said it would ensure that all factors are carefully considered before making any decision. They include prioritising the wellbeing of 27.2 million consumers and safeguarding the ability of service operators to continue delivering reliable services. SPAN's statement comes after Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said he would request a delay to the proposed water tariff hike. He said that once the application a for tariff hike had been approved, he would ask the federal government to defer the new tariffs until the middle of next year. Under federal water regulations, SPAN requires a periodic review of tariffs by water operators. However, any actual increase still needs Cabinet approval and cooperation from the state governments. PBAPP had launched a RM5 billion sukuk programme – the first by a state-linked water utility – to fund major infrastructure projects without overreliance on tariff hikes or bank loans. The funds raised will support initiatives such as the RM2.1 billion Water Contingency Plan 2030. Chow said PBAPP would also explore private financing and leaseback models to better manage costs over time.
