GEORGE TOWN: The Penang South Reclamation (PSR) joint venture (JV) project is a result of collective decision making, and not the sole decision made by one party, says a Penang government official.

       Teh Lai Heng, who is political secretary to the Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, said the joint venture to implement the PSR for Island A was achieved based on the collective decision of the Penang state executive council on March 24.

       "This collective decision proves and completely refutes the statements issued by certain irresponsible parties who made allegations that the JV was reached based on the agreement of one party only,” said Teh in a statement on Tuesday (June 22).

       He said the decision to proceed with Island A was the state government’s long-term development plan to expand industries.

       Teh added that this would create job opportunities, improve standards of living and climate resilience, and assist the state’s recovery efforts in reviving its Covid-19 battered economy.

       Politicians and non-governmental organisations have been calling for the project to be cancelled for environmental and social reasons.

       The latest naysayers include Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, Kepala Batas MP and Penang Federal Action Council chairman Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, and Deputy Agriculture and Food Industry Minister II Datuk Che Abdullah Mat Nawi.

       PSR is designed to fund the Penang Transport Master Plan which includes the Pan Island Link and Bayan Lepas Light Rail Transit.

       The proposed project involves the reclamation and development of three islands covering 1,820ha, namely Island A (930ha), Island B (566ha) and Island C (324ha).

       Island A will be home to the proposed Green Tech Park to ensure Penang’s burgeoning electrical and electronics industry will have room to grow for the next few decades.