The Protect Karpal Singh Drive Action Committee (ProtectKarpal) calls on Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow to publicly reaffirm that no time extension will be granted to the developer of the Jelutong landfill-related project.
This follows the lapse of the environmental impact assessment deadline [and now the rejection of the report] for the project.
ProtectKarpal wants the state to immediately pivot the state’s approach towards a safe, science-based closure of the Jelutong landfill without reclamation.
State’s commitment must stand
ProtectKarpal refers to the dialogue session with the chief minister on 24 June 2025, during which he communicated a clear commitment: no extension of time would be given to the developer if the environmental impact assessment approval was not obtained by 26 February 2026.
This assurance strengthened public confidence that Penang’s governance would prioritise public health and align with the values promoted under Penang2030, including liveability and people-centred development.
Lapsed deadline
- Sign up for Aliran's free daily email updates or weekly newsletters or both
- Make a one-off donation to Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara (ALIRAN), Maybank a/c 507246118995 or CIMB a/c 8004240948
- Make a pledge or schedule an auto donation to Aliran every month or every quarter
- Become an Aliran member
Based on community verification on the Department of Environment’s EKAS system dated 5 March and cross-verification with staff at the Penang Department of Environment, ProtectKarpal understands that the project application status remains “Dalam proses” (in process) [and since then, “Tidak diluluskan” or not approved] – indicating that the approval of the environmental impact assessment has not been granted.
In practical terms, this means the 26 February 2026 condition has lapsed without approval [and is now rejected]. This failure to meet the environmental compliance prerequisite within the stated timeframe is not a procedural technicality; it is a governance test.
The developer’s own impact assessment documentation has raised serious concerns around the adequacy of mitigation for key hazards commonly associated with landfill and coastal interventions, including:
- Landfill gas (including methane) risks and uncontrolled emissions pathways
- Leachate generation and toxic seepage risks; and
- Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure pathways that disproportionately affect children, older people and residents living near the site
Public health risk governance requires that where uncertainty and potential harm are high, decision-makers adopt a more – not less – precautionary stance.
ProtectKarpal and PBSP chairperson Dr K Ganesh said: “This is the moment for the state to do what it said it would do – without ambiguity and without ‘backdoor’ administrative manoeuvres. The deadline has lapsed. Public confidence depends on a clear, transparent decision that puts health and safety first.”
Public interest and coastal sustainability
ProtectKarpal proposes a constructive, implementable pathway grounded in risk management, environmental governance norms, and internationally recognised landfill closure practice.
Public declaration – no extension, no administrative backdoor: ProtectKarpal urges the chief minister’s office to issue a formal public statement confirming that:
- No new extension will be granted beyond the stated deadline
- No conditional or ‘administrative workaround’ approvals will be entertained
- The state will move to end the developer arrangement in line with the earlier commitment
This is not only about enforcement – it is about radical transparency that closes the space for speculation, restores civic trust and protects Penang’s governance credibility.
Drop the reclamation component entirely: ProtectKarpal supports the objective of rehabilitating the Jelutong landfill site.
However, the state must separate ‘safe closure’ from ‘reclamation. These are not the same policy instrument, do not carry the same risks and should not be bundled as a single development bargain.
We call for the complete removal of the reclamation component, and for the state’s focus to shift to engineering and ecological measures associated with responsible landfill closure, including:
- Controlled and monitored gas venting and equivalent safe gas management systems
- Proper capping systems (eg geomembrane and drainage layers) to reduce infiltration and emissions
- Robust leachate containment and treatment
- Transparent air and water quality monitoring, with public reporting
- Explicit safeguards for near-shore ecosystems, including the Middle Bank zone
In short: close the landfill safely first. Do not use closure as a pretext to legitimise high-intensity coastal reclamation.
Democratise risk governance: To prevent pollution incidents, reduce social conflict and ensure credible oversight, ProtectKarpal proposes the formation of a joint committee for the safe closure of the Jelutong landfill.
The committee should include:
- Penang state government representatives
- Penang Development Corporation and Penang Island City Council representation
- An independent academic experts panel (eg relevant expertise from Universiti Sains Malaysia, including environmental science, biodiversity and public health)
- Recognised civil society representation
- Local resident representation, including the Penang Bandar Sri Pinang Residents’ Association
This would reflect a public–private–people partnership governance model that treats affected communities not as obstacles, but as legitimate stakeholders in risk monitoring and accountability.
Gazette Middle Bank as a marine sanctuary: ProtectKarpal calls on the state to adopt a firm policy measure to protect Penang’s coastal ecological heritage by gazetting Middle Bank as a marine sanctuary.
This is a legacy decision: development must not proceed by sacrificing ecosystems that are irreplaceable.
Enforce public commitments
In an era of intensifying climate, health and coastal risks, leadership is not measured by slogans but by decisive enforcement of stated commitments.
ProtectKarpal urges the Chief Minister to uphold the 24 June 2025 position: no extension beyond 26 February 2026.
ProtectKarpal stands ready to participate in a technical working session with the chief minister’s office and relevant agencies, and to provide community input and risk concerns in order to support an accountable, safe closure plan for the Jelutong landfill. – ProtectKarpal
The Protect Karpal Singh Drive action committee (ProtectKarpal) operates under the auspices of the Bandar Sri Pinang Residents’ Association.
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
