The Penang South Islands (PSI) project was initially a massive reclamation project to create three islands off the southern coast of Penang island. The RM10 billion reclamation project is a state government initiative to finance the RM46 billion Penang Transport Master Plan through the reclamation of the three islands covering 1,620ha off Permatang Damar Laut. The project has faced fierce and vociferous opposition from many, including environmentalists and local fishermen. We catch up with Meenakshi Raman, the President of Sahabat Alam Malaysia, to discuss the negative social and environmental impacts this project is expected to cause, and why concerned groups are still calling for the project to be scrapped, despite the project now being scaled down by 49% to one island, from the original three.

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