ProtectKarpal urges Penang to reject 28-hectare Jelutong reclamation plan

The Protect Karpal Singh Drive Action Committee has called on the Penang government to reject a 28-hectare reclamation proposal for the Jelutong Waste Disposal Site, asserting it violates the Joint Development Agreement that permits additional land solely for perimeter protection of rehabilitation works. The group highlights that Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow stated in 2020 that reclamation would be limited to up to 4 ha for embankment and a perimeter wall, but the Environmental Impact Assessment released in February 2025 expands the area to 28 ha, primarily for processing and recycling excavated waste.

ProtectKarpal contends that waste-processing needs alone do not justify the larger footprint and urges authorities to approve only the portion essential for perimeter security. It also warns that using material recovered from the landfill for marine reclamation could create a new offshore landfill, demanding independent testing of its environmental safety. Citing Clause 18.1 of the agreement, the committee asks the state to explain any potential compensation if it chooses to terminate the deal. The RM1 billion rehabilitation project, awarded to PLB Engineering Bhd, has faced repeated rejections of its EIA by the Department of Environment.