Can an updated EIA salvage the Penang sea reclamation project?

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An Updated Environmental Impact Assessment May Be Considered for the Penang South Reclamation Project

The Penang government is contemplating the possibility of submitting an updated Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for its Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project, following a decision by the Appeal Board that cancelled the original EIA approval. This potential revised assessment would be based on approvals from local authorities, as suggested in the Appeal Board's ruling. The state is also exploring the option of pursuing a judicial review against the Appeal Board's decision.
Appeal Board Overturns Original EIA Approval

The Appeal Board has nullified the approval of the EIA for the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project. This decision came after the board allowed preliminary objections raised against the approval granted by the Department of Environment (DoE) director general. The board found the original approval to be ultra vires, meaning it was made beyond the DG's legal authority, rendering it null and void.
Potential for Judicial Review

Following the Appeal Board's decision, the Penang government is considering legal recourse. State executive councillor Zairil Khir Johari indicated that a judicial review against the Appeal Board's ruling may be pursued, pending the receipt of the official written decision. This legal challenge represents one avenue the state might take to address the cancellation of the EIA approval.
Consideration of an Updated EIA

As an alternative or supplementary action, the Penang government plans to evaluate the feasibility of presenting an updated EIA. This revised assessment would need to incorporate approvals from relevant local authorities, a condition referenced in the Appeal Board's decision. The PSR project, initially conceived in 2015 as a funding mechanism for the RM46 billion Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP), involves the creation of three artificial islands totalling 4,500 acres off the southern coast of Penang Island.

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Can an updated EIA salvage the Penang sea reclamation project?

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