Anwar said he also had concerns about the project, particularly the livelihood of fishermen in the area.

On Wednesday, federal regulators gave their approval for the PSI based on a new environmental impact assessment (EIA), subject to 71 conditions.

“If the stakeholders want to file an appeal against the project, we (the federal government) will listen, and the state government will provide an explanation,” Anwar told reporters here today.

The project received strong opposition from fishermen, environmentalists and the G25 group of prominent retired civil servants over concerns that it would adversely affect marine life.

Yesterday, Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow defended the approval granted for the project, saying it had gone through a long and tedious process.

He said the EIA that was approved by Putrajaya was a fresh application, adding that the state government should be allowed to prove that it could comply with the 71 conditions.

The previous EIA approval for the project in 2019 was revoked two years later.

The RM10 billion reclamation project is a state government initiative to finance the RM46 billion Penang Transport Master Plan through the reclamation of three islands, covering 1,620ha, off Permatang Damar Laut.

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