Press Statment                                             26 July 2019

Scaling down the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project if there is federal funding for the PTMP components such as the Bayan-Lepas Light Rail Transit (LRT) and the Pan Island Link (PIL 1) will not solve the fundamental problems posed by both PSR and the PTMP.

It was reported in the media yesterday that following a meeting with the PKR President Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the Chief Minister of Penang, Chow KonYeow that was one of the points of consideration.

Sahabat Alam Malaysia’s (SAM) objection to the PSR and that of the fishermen has been that the mega reclamation project will have massive effects as clearly spelt out recently by the Minister of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry in Parliament who openly admitted (on 16 July) that the reclamation project will destroy and have residual impact on mudflat ecosystems, fishing grounds, turtle landing zones and part of the coral reefs at Pulau Rimau, which is an important ecosystem for the local marine life.

Press Statement                                          25 July 2019

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) has urged the Penang state government to investigate and take immediate action to address the recurrent problem of mud-flows in Bayan Baru. 

SAM regrets that although the problem of mud-flows here has been occurring for more than 10 years till now no effective action has been taken.

Recently on 24 July 2019, thousands of road users and businesses in the area were affected by  mud-flows after a heavy downpour. SAM's survey found that residual mud on the roads around Bayan Baru had led to serious traffic congestion.

Now the situation has become worse because the dust from the dried mud is a nuisance to the public. SAM is concerned that if this issue is not addressed soon it could affect the safety and health of the public.

Press Release                                          5 July 2019

Over the past few days, Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) has been noticing a serious haze problem occurring in Penang with very poor visibility.

We are wondering why the haze is occurring and SAM would like a clarification from the Department of Environment (DOE) about the state of the air quality in Penang.

With the rather high temperatures these past few weeks in the region of 30 degrees C and above and with no rains, the haze seems to have come back.

Siaran Akhbar                                          5 Julai 2019 

Sejak beberapa hari lalu, Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) mendapati masalah jerebu yang serius berlaku lagi di Pulau Pinang dengan jarak padangan yang amat buruk.

Kami tertanya-tanya kenapa jerebu berlaku dan SAM ingin mendapatkan penjelasan daripada Jabatan Alam Sekitar (JAS) mengenai keadaan kualiti udara di Pulau Pinang.

Dengan kadar suhu yang amat tinggi sejak beberapa minggu di kawasan ini dengan 30 darjah Celsius dan lebih dengan ketiadaan hujan, jerebu kelihatan kembali semula.

Adakah kebakaran hutan berlaku semula di Indonesia atau adakah kebakaran berlaku di kawasan utara yang menyumbang kepada jerebu?

Press Release                                         26 June 2019

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) and the Tanjung Bungah Residents’ Association (TBRA) express our shock and alarm at yet another tragedy in the Tanjung Bungah area, near the Lost Paradise Hotel which has claimed four lives yesterday.

The Majlis Bandaraya Pulau Pinang (MBPP) has stated in a press statement that the tragedy was the result of the collapse of a retaining wall which was under construction at the site, which did not have any approval from the authority.

It is indeed shocking that no approvals from the MBPP for the retaining wall construction was obtained by the owners who allowed the earthworks, which appeared to be going on even in the late evening.

Clearly, no lessons have been learnt from the tragic Granito landslide tragedy that happened on 21 October, 2017.

Siaran Akhbar                                         26 Jun 2019 

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) dan Persatuan Penduduk Tanjung Bungah (TBRA) amat terkejut dan bimbang dengan satu lagi tragedi yang berlaku di kawasan Tanjung Bungah berdekatan Hotel Lost Paradise yang meragut empat nyawa.

Majlis Bandaraya Pulau Pinang (MBPP) menyatakan dalam kenyataan akhbarnya bahawa tragedi yang berlaku itu adalah akibat daripada tembok penahan yang sedang dalam pembinaan di kawasan itu tidak mempunyai sebarang kelulusan daripada pihak berkuasa.

Amat mengejutkan bahawa tiada kelulusan daripada MBPP bagi pembinaan tembok penahan diperolehi oleh pemilik yang membenarkan kerja tanah, yang dilakukan sehingga lewat malam.

Jelas sekali, tiada pengajaran yang diambil daripada tragedi tanah runtuh Granito yang berlaku pada 21 Oktober 2017.

Press Release                                         18 April 2019

The Consumers Association Penang (CAP) and Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) are shocked and disturbed to learn that the controversial Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project has been given the go-ahead by the National Physical Planning Council (NPPC),with the imposition of 18 points of advice (nasihat) to the Penang State Government.

We do not know how the PSR could be approved when there were huge financial, social and environmental concerns over the project, including its effects on the livelihoods of local fishermen who will be affected by the project.

Kenyataan Akhbar                                  18 April 2019

Persatuan Pengguna Pulau Pinang (CAP) dan Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) amat terkejut dan kecewa apabila mendapati bahawa Projek Tambak Laut Selatan Pulau Pinang (PSR) yang menjadi kontroversi telah diberikan kebenaran untuk meneruskan projek oleh Majlis Perancangan Fizikal Negara (NPPC), dengan mengenakan 18 perkara sebagai nasihat kepada Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang.

Kami tidak mengetahui bagaimana PSR boleh diluluskan apabila terdapat begitu banyak kebimbangan mengenai kewangan, sosial dan alam sekitar yang amat besar terhadap projek itu, termasuklah kesannya ke atas kehidupan nelayan tempatan yang akan terjejas oleh projek itu.

Press Release                                         15 April 2019

The Consumers’ Association of Penang(CAP) and Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) are very upset by the Penang Chief Minister’s announcement today that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Pan-Island Link (PIL) has been approved by the Department of Environment (DOE) with 56 conditions.

We are also shocked that the DOE has approved the EIA despite the public feedback.

We were among many thousands of Penangites and groups who had voiced our deep concerns over the EIA, which had many flaws.

We totally disagree with the Chief Minister of Penang, Y.B. Chow, who claims that the PIL EIA approval marks a milestone in addressing the traffic woes in Penang.

Kenyataan akhbar                                  15 April 2019

Persatuan Pengguna Pulau Pinang (CAP) dan Sahabat Alam Malaysia Malaysia (SAM) amat kecewa dengan pengumuman Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang hari ini bahawa Penilaian Kesan Alam Sekitar (EIA) untuk Pan-Island Link (PIL) telah diluluskan oleh Jabatan Alam Sekitar (JAS) dengan 56 syarat.

Kami juga amat terkejut JAS telah meluluskan EIA walaupun mendapat maklum balas daripada orang awam.

Kami adalah antara ribuan penduduk Pulau Pinang dan kumpulan yang telah menyuarakan kebimbangan kami mengenai EIA, yang mempunyai banyak kecacatan.

Kami tidak bersetuju sepenuhnya dengan Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang, Y.B. Chow, yang mendakwa kelulusan EIA PIL merupakan satu peristiwa penting dalam menangani masalah lalu lintas di Pulau Pinang.