A spokesperson for Penang Gerakan, Ooi Zhi Yi, said a state government official who had been quoted previously on the Seri Tanjung Pinang II (STP2) reclamation was off by 41 acres.
Ooi said state executive councillor Lim Hock Seng had said there would be “850 acres” to be reclaimed under the STP2 project. However, the official announcements made previously stated it was 891 acres.
“Where are the missing 41 acres. This is as big as 656 tennis courts.
“Although it may appear small, but it is RM2.3 billion worth of land, based on the Penang government’s fixed value of RM1,300 per square feet for the reclaimed land in STP2.
“The Penang government must clarify with the right numbers immediately.
“But if this was a mistake, it would be a shame that a state executive councillor could make a huge mistake at the state assembly,” Ooi said in a press conference at the state Gerakan headquarters here today.
Ooi said a written reply by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng at the state assembly on May 25, 2015 showed that the total reclamation area would be 891.09 acres.
Ooi said the number in the CM’s reply also tallied with the figure released by E&O Berhad (E&O), who in a media statement dated Oct 28, 2015 had said 891 acres would be reclaimed.
FMT has contacted Lim Hock Seng and is awaiting a response to Ooi’s comments.
The STP project makes up a large chunk of the 3,241 acres of land reclamation rights awarded by the previous BN government.
The STP concession was originally given in 1990. E&O, which took over the reclamation project from a previous concessionaire, completed the first phase in 2006.
After given the go ahead for the second phase, STP2, last year, E&O awarded the RM2.32 billion construction rights to Shanghai and Hong Kong-listed China Communications Construction Co Ltd (CCCC).
The reclamation works are being carried out by E&O’s subsidiary, Tanjung Pinang Development Sdn Bhd, in which the state government holds a 21.2% stake via Penang Development Corporation (PDC).