Majority reject reclamation project off Karpal Singh Drive in Penang

THE Protect Karpal Singh Drive Action Committee claimed a victory in their fight to prevent a reclamation project from taking place near their homes.

The committee released a report after meeting the Penang Department of Environment (DoE) which stipulated that 98.6% of those polled rejected the reclamation project off Karpal Singh Drive.

The committee, representing residents from multiple residential communities in the affected area, had submitted a comprehensive memorandum to the DoE.

The committee extends its appreciation to Penang DOE director Norazizi Adinan and his team for meeting directly with community representatives and receiving the document in person.

At the meeting, DOE officials revealed that an overwhelming 98.6% of public feedback during the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) public display period opposed the proposed reclamation project.

This powerful statistic underscores the depth of community rejection and public discontent, said the committee spokesperson Dr K. Ganesh.

The memo details critical and systemic flaws in the EIA for the Jelutong landfill rehabilitation, reclamation and open-air landfill waste recycling proposal, and issues a united call for the DOE to act immediately to safeguard public health and enforce robust environmental protections, said Ganesh in a statement.

The residents’ united demands to the DOE are:

1.    Immediately reject the current EIA and require an independent, comprehensive Health Impact Assessment that considers cumulative, synergistic, and long-term community exposures.

2.    Mandate a Safe Closure Plan for Jelutong Landfill per national standards before any new project approval

3.    Enforce active landfill gas management, secure capping, and international-standard closure for Jelutong landfill before considering any reclamation or new waste processing.

4.    Prohibit open-air waste recycling and reclamation works within urban residential zones.

5.    Protect Middle Bank as a critical national marine resource through comprehensive ecological impact reassessment

6.    Mandate genuine, transparent consultation with all affected residents, not just token sampling.

7.    Disclose all technical findings and community input publicly before any project is considered. - July 4, 2025.