GEORGE TOWN – Penang Infrastructure Corporation (PIC), the state-formed special purpose vehicle overseeing the ongoing Silicon Island reclamation project, has denied that the project developer promised locals living around Pantai Esen a cleanup of the thick silt layer on the beach.
PIC CEO Datuk Seri Farizan Darus, when contacted by Scoop, suggested that the residents’ claims of the company “promising” to conduct suction dredging to fix the issue could be a misunderstanding and they might have mistaken channel dredging works for silt suction works.
Last Sunday, Scoop reported that residents demanded Silicon Island Development Sdn Bhd (SIDSB) to deliver their promise – said to have been made back in February – to pump out the thick silt layer along the coastline using a suction dredger.
This followed their claims that the ongoing reclamation works off the coast of the beach contributed to the “unusual” silt problem.
Farizan said that there was “no way” that SIDSB would have made the promise as the developer is only required to build a 250m-wide access channel between Silicon Island and the Penang island. This is to ensure that local fishermen have safe access to the open sea as stipulated in the conditions that came with the approved environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the artificial island project.
He said that all dredging works have been halted at the moment due to the siltation, which came to light recently. This includes works on the southern part of the reclaimed land, which the residents mentioned.
“Currently, we are not doing channel dredging works due to the silt buildup (along Pantai Esen), and the depth of the current sea level is sufficient for fishermen to go in and out to sea,” he told Scoop.
Farizan also said that no one from SIDSB would have made the said promise back in February as there was no siltation problem back then.
“Everything (on the beach) was in good condition back in February.The silt problem only (happened) lately because of the monsoon season,” he added.
Recently, the unusually thick silt along the shorelines of the popular tourist attraction and claims of its stench went viral on social media – disturbing the beauty of Pantai Esen and deterring tourists from visiting which has led to economic losses for the locals.
Beach cleanup, investigation, and monitoring
Following the community’s concerns over the silt situation, PIC through SIDSB mobilised a 10-men team of workers to perform beach surface cleanup works last Saturday, Farizan said. The cleanup project, which started at about 9am, lasted for more than five hours with the team collecting around 20 bags of sludge-like deposits.
The cleanup work was a “remedial action” undertaken by both PIC and SIDSB “as a responsible corporate neighbour” to maintain the pristine environment of Pantai Esen, he said.
Farizan also noted that PIC is working closely with environmental experts to conduct a comprehensive investigation in understanding the root cause of the siltation phenomenon. Findings would be used to suggest a long-term solution aimed at mitigation, should such problems reoccur.
“Following the cleanup, we will continue monitoring the site to assess any recurring sludge-like deposits. These observations will contribute to the insights provided to our appointed professionals to help resolve this matter comprehensively,” he added.
PIC is observing the situation at Pantai Esen through its Fishermen One-Stop Service Centre (PPSN), where its information officers have been monitoring the beach daily during both high-tide and low-tide to closely observe the environment and provide feedback for technical analysis, he explained.
The 2,300-acre Silicon Island project would cover half of the southern coast of Penang island, from Batu Maung to Bayan Lepas upon completion of the reclamation works in 2032, with full development of the island spanning over 25 years.
The island would host a 700-acre Green Tech Park, which is a high-tech industrial park that hosts semiconductor firms, as well as digital technology infrastructure, e-commerce, and Business Process Outsourcing facilities.
Additionally, Silicon Island would also host commercial and residential areas, as well as several green spaces which include mangrove forests, wetlands and floodplains.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said last year that the development is expected to generate RM1.1 trillion to the nation’s gross domestic product as well as RM74.7 billion in investments, creating 220,000 jobs. – October 30, 2024