GEORGE TOWN: Reclamation work for the Penang Silicon Island project is progressing smoothly with about six hectares reclaimed since work started last October.
State Infrastructure Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said it is projected that 400 acres (160 hectares) would be reclaimed at the end of next year.
"Reclamation work is on schedule. As of last month, we have reclaimed 15 acres.
"Our target is to reclaim 400 acres by the end of 2025," he told the New Straits Times.
Zairil said the Penang Silicon Island project would be the future of the state.
"It will be a new Bayan Lepas free industrial zone, with high technology and a smart green technology park using renewable energy, attracting high technology companies all over.
"It is set to open up vast job opportunities for the future of Penang.
"Within the next two to three years, we will see the first factory coming into fruition at the Penang Silicon Island," he added.
On Sept 1 last year, preparatory works for the Penang Silicon Island project began following approval of the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for the project which was obtained from the state Department of Environment (DOE) on July 21, last year.
In May last year, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow announced that Penang would do away with two of the three islands of the controversial reclamation project, which meant a scaling down of 49 per cent of the total three man-made islands project.
Island A, now known as Silicon Island, measures about 920ha.
In February this year, it was reported that seven fishermen, together with Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) and Jaringan Ekologi dan Iklim (Jedi), had filed an application for judicial review to challenge the planning permission given by the state Town and Country Planning director last August for the project.
In the application for judicial review, they among others, sought an order that the planning permission granted for the project, and all other processes and reclamation works are stayed pending the final disposal of this judicial review application and costs.
Asked on the court case brought by the various parties, Zairil said: "The case will be dealt with in court."