PENANG CHIEF MINISTER SHOULD BE MORE CONCERN ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

I refer to the recent issue surrounding the setting up of a solar panel (photovoltaic) manufacturing plant at Batu Kawan.

In my statement 2 days ago, I have called for Penang Chief Minister YAB Lim Guan Eng to reveal the environmental impact of the solar panel (photovoltaic) manufacturing plant in view of the pollution crisis at Zhejiang village in China as a result of a similar factory. As such, I have also requested for the disclosure of the steps to be taken by Penang to avert such pollution like have seen in China.

Some 500 villagers at Zhejiang village staged a three-day protest following the death of large numbers of fish in a local river. Tests on water samples showed high levels of fluoride, which can be toxic in high doses

The solar panel (photovoltaic) manufacturing plant at Zhejiang had been closed down by authorities in China after the pollution incident in September, 2011.

[ Source: BBC News – 19th September, 2011
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-14968605 ]

However, yesterday, Penang Chief Minister YAB Lim Guan Eng brush aside this issue and claim that the solar panel (photovoltaic) manufacturing plant was approved by federal government agencies, including the Department of Environment (DOE) and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida).

With due respect to the Penang Chief Minister, the land for the manufacturing plant had been sold by Penang Development Corporation (PDC), where the Sale & Purchase Agreement was signed on 29th February, 2012. The manufacturing plant would also be subjected to planning approvals by the local authorities in Penang.

It’s also within the authority of Penang state government to ensure proper safety regulations be made and adhered to avoid similar pollution crisis in Batu Kawan like what we have seen as a result of a solar panel (photovoltaic) manufacturing plant at Zhejiang.

I hope that YAB Lim Guan Eng would take this environmental issue seriously and review the approvals for the solar panel (photovoltaic) manufacturing plant. Appropriate regulations should be made to ensure there will not be any environmental crisis in Batu Kawan as a result of the solar panel (photovoltaic) manufacturing plant.

This is not the time to point fingers as to who approve the project but rather all parties should work together to ensure the well being of our people and their environment.