The two NGOs, headed by SM Mohamed Idris, said the project was being allowed to be carried out despite many objections from civil society groups over the project’s environmental, social and financial implications.

“So many fundamental concerns have been raised by concerned citizens and NGOs, yet we do not know how these concerns have been addressed.

“Hence, we want the 18-point advice to be made public so that the public can understand what the conditions for approval were by the National Physical Planning Council (NPPC),” the two NGOs said.

The NPPC, chaired by the prime minister, had approved the three-islands project, giving the Penang government 18 points of advice.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow had earlier said he would reveal these 18 points of advice tomorrow.

The Penang South Reclamation project involves nearly 17 sq km (4,200 acres), with the islands covering an area of 9.3, 4.45 and 3.23 sq km, to be reclaimed off the coast of Permatang Damar Laut, near Bayan Lepas.

The reclaimed land will belong to the Penang government but will later be auctioned off to the highest bidder to finance the RM46 billion Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP).

The PTMP envisions a series of highways, light rail transit (LRT) lines and other modes of transport to be built over the next 20 to 30 years.

The Penang government has indicated that it would like to start the 19.5km Pan Island Link 1 (PIL 1) highway and the Komtar-Bayan Lepas LRT line before the other projects.

Idris also questioned PIL 1’s high price tag, which was even higher than the revised East Coast Rail Link (ECRL). He claimed the ECRL cost RM68 million per km, while the PIL1 would cost RM400 million per km.

“The huge cost for the Penang South Reclamation project and the PTMP, which amount to RM46 billion, have been inexplicable and outrageous. How any approvals can be given under such circumstances is mind-boggling,” he added.