In a statement today, the civil society group said the country could emulate the European Union by conducting a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) before an environmental impact assessment (EIA) was conducted on any large-scale project.
The EIA is required by the Department of Environment before any major development can take off.
Aliran said the SEA was a more thorough study as it evaluated more facets of impact compared with an EIA. It said the SEA covered social and environmental effects and land use-related plans such as regional and local transport plans.
It said the SEA would be useful in cases such as Penang’s proposed Transport Master Plan (PTMP), which has come under intense scrutiny and whose possible environmental impact is worrying some residents.
The Penang government is eager to implement the PTMP, which will see highways, LRT lines and other modes of transport implemented in the years to come.
Aliran said in the absence of a SEA mechanism, the federal government must commission a review of the PTMP and plans to fund it by reclaiming three islands off the south of Penang Island.
Aliran said any investment on a large-scale transport project must also be financially viable to operate.
“The overriding principle should be moving people, not cars,” the statement by Aliran’s executive committee read.
In the case of PTMP, it said the projected ridership of the proposed LRT and revenue figures needed to be realistic and sufficient to justify the investment and to meet operating and maintenance costs.
Aliran said a recommendation made by UK-based engineers Halcrow in 2013 ought to be used in improving Penang’s transport system as it promoted sustainable mobility in the long run.
“It is also time to improve and expand the ferry service, which was one of the recommendations in the (Halcrow) report.
“The investments and their (Penang government’s PTMP) financing model should have a minimal impact on the ecology.
“Given the present era of climate change, these investments must lead to reduced emissions and a lower carbon footprint.
“This is critical to achieving Pakatan Harapan’s pledge to cut carbon emissions by 40% by 2020,” Aliran said.
The group also called for the 20-volume PTMP proposal to be placed online and the EIA objection period for a highway project called the Pan Island Link 1 (PIL 1) under it to be extended by another two months. The objection period ends on Sept 7.
Civil society groups have railed against the highway project as it will require tunnelling through hills and will cross granite fault lines, which they fear may trigger large earth movements.