JASIN, Aug 23 ― Foreshore land reclamation work along the coastline has always complied to the standards set by the ministry, federal and state governments.

Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron said the state government always made sure the operating procedures were in tandem with the Department of Environment and local authorities.

 Idris said the state government and the relevant agencies involved will continue to monitor the projects to ensure no environmental damage to the ecology or pollution.

"In Malacca all land reclamation projects follow the guidelines and procedures to maximise development in the reclaimed areas. Wish to inform the Chief Minister of Penang, Lim Guan Eng, that land reclamation in Penang was not under control compared with Malacca,” he told reporters after visiting the Xinyi Glass factory in Lipat Kajang, here today.

He was commenting on newspaper reports that claimed Lim had questioned reports which claimed land reclamation in Penang had caused environmental damage was bias since similar land reclamation projects carried out by Malacca and Perak was not reported.

Idris said Malacca as a developing state was always concerned with the preservation of the environment and that Lim’s remarks were a diverting strategy on reports that claimed land reclamation in Penang had caused extensive damage to the environment. ― Bernama