Perak MB says no problem to supply sand, stones to Penang for man-made island project

IPOH, June 7 — Perak is ready to offer its sand and stones to Penang for its proposed artificial island project after Kedah refused to sell the DAP-led state government the raw materials.

Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad today said his government has no issue supplying Penang the raw materials so long as it brings in revenue.

“Perak is already selling sand right now. We have to see the need and supply.

“If there is a request coming with a reasonable price and if it can bring new revenue to the state, then why not?” he told a press conference at the Menteri Besar Office in Perak Darul Ridzuan Building here today.

Saarani was asked to comment on Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Sanusi Md Noor’s refusal to sell sand and stones for the Penang South Island (PSI) project.

Sanusi was reported by news portal SuaraMerdeka as saying that the Penang project would only benefit the rich as high-end houses would be built on the man-made island that would be sold at a high price so that developers could recoup their capital.

Sanusi, who is from PAS, claimed the Penang government had neglected poor people who urgently needed the state’s help for housing.

The PSI was originally an ambitious project to build three islands measuring 1,820ha in total to the south of Penang’s main island, but has been downsized to one island measuring 930ha after objection from certain groups after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim intervened.

The PSI was designed to fund the Penang Transport Master Plan, a multibillion-ringgit project encompassing extensive public transport infrastructure and road systems, which includes the Pan Island Link and Bayan Lepas Light Rail Transit (LRT).

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said last Sunday that his government will explore the possibility of scaling down or postponing part of the PSI project after the federal government agreed to fully finance the state’s LRT project.