CM: Payments being given out in phases based on scope of ‘Silicon Island’ project
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has announced that ex gratia payments are being distributed in phases to fishermen affected by the “Silicon Island” project off the southern coast of Penang island. The payments are being given to those who have signed up for the Social Impact Management Plan (SIMP). The project recently secured the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) approval from the Penang Department of Environment (DOE).
The ex gratia payment will be distributed in two phases, with 75% given out initially and the remaining 25% to be distributed early next year. The payments will be made based on the reduced scope of the project, which now entails only one man-made island instead of the three initially proposed.
According to Chow, the “Silicon Island” project is developed based on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles. It is expected to become a leading technology center in the region, creating job opportunities and providing long-term economic benefits to the locality. The reclamation process is set to take place over 18 months, resulting in approximately 600 marine and land-based jobs, with priority given to fishermen and local residents.
Aside from the EMP approval, the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report for the reclamation project was approved with 71 conditions on April 11. The project commenced with the deployment of marine buoys and silt curtain installation, followed by physical reclamation works on site.
Chow expressed his appreciation to the Penang Department of Environment for their thorough assessment and approval of the EMP. He highlighted the importance of cooperation in ensuring the development of Silicon Island is compliant with the environmental and safety needs of the local community.
The “Silicon Island” project is envisioned as an economic catalyst and new tourism attraction for Penang. Planned developments include the Green Tech Park (GTP) and Heart of the Island (HOTI) business district to attract high-impact investments. The complete reclamation effort is projected to take 10 to 15 years.
The Green Tech Park will feature research and design facilities, digital technology infrastructure, e-commerce, and business process outsourcing. HOTI, on the other hand, will serve as a waterfront commercial hub.
Island A, encompassing 930ha, is the only island to be reclaimed for Silicon Island. The reclamation works for Phase 1 of Island A have been awarded to turnkey contractor SRS TC Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Gamuda, by Silicon Island Development Sdn Bhd, majority-owned by SRS PD Sdn Bhd.
Originally, the reclamation project aimed to fund part of the Penang Transport Master Plan, including the Pan Island Link and light rail transit (LRT) projects. However, with the Federal Government fully funding the LRT project from Bayan Lepas to Tanjung Bungah, the Penang South Islands project was scaled down by 49%, shelving Island B (566ha) and Island C (324ha) indefinitely.
Consumer groups Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) and Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) have appealed to both the federal and Penang governments to reconsider the project. They argue that downsizing the project does not alleviate their concerns and those of the fishing community. The groups assert that the project is unnecessary as there is sufficient land on the mainland for economic expansion and that destroying the bio-diverse ecosystem is unjustifiable.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
