SUNGAI BULOH: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today dismissed claims suggesting that he refused to entertain concerns raised on the controversial Penang South Island (PSI) project, which has elicited mixed reactions among non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and fishermen in the area.
The federal government, said Anwar, was ready to listen to the concerns raised by stakeholders over the development of the project.
He also said the Penang government should be given the opportunity to explain all the concerns raised.
"The project, in principle, has received Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval, which came with 71 conditions that needed to be fulfilled.
"I, myself, have raised concerns over the development of the project. I am aware of the concerns. If there are objections to the development of the project, we are ready to hear them.
"Having said that, the Penang government should also be given the opportunity to address the issues raised over the development of the project," he told reporters after performing Friday prayers at the Jamiul Ehsan Mosque in Kampung Kubu Gajah, Paya Jaras, here.
Anwar was asked to comment on the PSI project, which sits in a Malay-majority area eyed by Perikatan Nasional (PN) to win in the upcoming state elections.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow on April 26 announced that the PSI has obtained EIA approval.
The approval, said Chow, came with 71 conditions to be fulfilled.
The green light over the project did not go down well with some 6,000 fishermen , who vowed to fight against the PSI.