GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government is committed to complying with all legal provisions in implementing the Penang Silicon Island project.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said, since the very start, the state government had consistently asserted that it would comply with all legal provisions in implementing the land reclamation project for Silicon Island.
"From the beginning, we have faced challenges and even had our Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report rejected, but it did not hinder our efforts.
"We improved our submission and eventually obtained approval.
"Similarly, in this case, there are questions raised about whether the planning permission approval process was adhered to.
"Indeed, we have followed the processes stipulated by the law," he told newsmen when asked to comment on the outcome of the High Court ruling here this morning.
The High Court had dismissed the judicial review application filed by seven fishermen to challenge the planning permission granted by the state Town and Country Planning director in August for the Silicon Island project.
The judicial review was filed alongside Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) and Jaringan Ekologi dan Iklim (Jedi).
With the ruling, the PSI project can now proceed as planned.
The application for judicial review was initially filed by the seven fishermen, SAM, and Jedi at the Penang High Court in December last year.
They sought to contest the planning permission issued by the state Town and Country Planning director.
The nine applicants were suing the state Town and Country Planning (PLANMalaysia) director as the first respondent, the state Planning Committee (second respondent), the Penang government (third respondent), and SRS Consortium Sdn Bhd (fourth respondent).
Elaborating, Chow said regardless of any challenges, they would patiently await the outcome.
"That is our commitment," he added.
Chow was met at the launch of the Penang state government's cashless campaign at Jalan Magazine here.