CM: We’ll ensure all projects abide by environmental rules

THE Penang Government will ensure that all the projects comply with environmental guidelines before proceeding, said Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

“We will not proceed with any projects without an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report, the state will not proceed with the projects,” he said.

He was commenting on the Escape Theme Park Resort located near a forest reserve, the Teluk Bahang Dam and the Penang State Park.

Lim said the Department of Environment had already conducted a study and found that it (theme park) is located downstream so there would be no contamination of the Teluk Bahang dam.

The resort located on a 17ha site was being developed by Sim Leisure Consultant Sdn Bhd. The project, which started on Oct 18 last year, will take about six years to complete.

Lim, who was speaking to reporters in Balik Pulau, said the state would ensure that everything was in accordance with environmental guidelines and there would be no damage to the dam.

He also said the eventual outcome of the solar panel factory to be built in Batu Kawan on the mainland would be clean energy.

“If they (Barisan) want to talk about processing or if it is clean, then what about Lynas? Not only the processing is questionable, the waste product is also questionable.

“When they (Barisan) do it in Malacca, there was no issue. But when in Penang, there is issue,” he said, adding that this showed double standards.

Lim was referring to the US-based SunPower Corporation which invested some RM2.3bil to set up their solar cell fabrication plant in Alor Gajah, Melaka. - The Star