SAM objects to reclamation project, recommends safe closure of Jelutong landfill

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) urges the Penang state government to cancel the proposed land reclamation project adjacent to the existing Jelutong Landfill in Penang, and the EIA of the proposed project rejected by the Department of Environment due to the negative environmental and health impacts. Moreover, the proposed reclamation works will have adverse impacts on the Middle Bank, which is rich in marine biodiversity.

The proposed Jelutong landfill rehabilitation will cover 36.42 hectares (90 acres) and the land reclamation will cover 28.33 hectares (70 acres) of land.  We do agree that there is a need to ensure the safe closure of the existing Jelutong Landfill which was operated earlier by MBPP. There are major issues pertaining to landfills i.e. leachate, landfill gas, foul odours, soil subsidence, mass movement and potential fires.  All these potentially deteriorate the health and quality of life of neighbouring residents, besides contributing to environmental pollution.

Hence the best option is for the Jelutong Landfill to be safely closed, and this is long overdue. Safe closure must ensure the prevention of environmental hazards and long-term site and public safety, including proper capping, leachate management, gas monitoring, and post-closure monitoring.

Three options were presented in the EIA. The first option – Parkland – is total closure of the existing Jelutong Landfill and rehabilitating the entire site as a parkland area. The second option – total redevelopment of the Jelutong landfill – was considered not a viable option. The third option is closure of the Jelutong Landfill and removal of wastes.

The final decision upon appraisal, as stated in the EIA, was to adopt the first and third options i.e. the parkland together with a programme of material recovery and bulk earthworks to facilitate the construction of development areas within the Jelutong Landfill.  This option needed an additional parcel of land, thus the proposed reclamation adjacent to the landfill.

The EIA states that the project site including the proposed reclamation area is located at the middle banks of Penang Island.  In a later chapter, the EIA states that the proposed project site may include the Middle Bank as the actual boundary of the Middle Bank has yet to be ascertained.  It is thus surprising that the Chief Minister was quoted by the media that the proposed project would not encroach on Middle Bank.

The EIA presented the potential impact of reclamation i.e. generally water quality at the reclamation site during the filling activity would deteriorate with higher turbidity, resuspension of contaminated materials into the water column, dissolved oxygen depletion, release of nutrients and other contaminated materials from the sediments and the creation of scum.

The Middle Bank was perceived to be the most affected seagrass area during the proposed reclamation works. The Middle Bank ecosystem consisting of seagrass meadows, tidal mudflats serve as nursery grounds for juvenile marine life which supports fisheries, and any development here or adjacent to it will threaten the marine ecosystem and thus the livelihood of fisherfolk. Moreover, construction runoff and uncontained leachate will leach toxins into the Penang Strait, contaminating the marine waters and endangering aquatic life.

The proposed rehabilitation and reclamation working platform will be close to residential areas and schools. Waste recycling machines operating here will generate constant air pollution and noise. The excavation works for landfill materials will release hazardous particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) that poses significant health risks, including respiratory and cardiovascular problems, and can worsen existing conditions like asthma and heart disease. The potential long-term health impacts on children and vulnerable communities have not been adequately assessed in the EIA report.

Although the EIA identifies mitigation measures, there would still be pollution that will impact the residents here and cause damage to the marine ecosystem. SAM supports the call of the Protect Karpal Singh Drive action committee for the State to reject the proposed reclamation of land in its bid to “rehabilitate” the old Jelutong landfill, as it is unnecessary, and in which the EIA confirmed that the landfill could be dismantled and rehabilitated without the need for land expansion.

Meenakshi Raman
President
Sahabat Alam Malaysia

Press Release, 29 March 2025