Latest news with #FarizanDarus
Barnama
20-05-2025
- General
- Barnama
Barge At Silicon Island Project Site Experiences Stability Issue, All 11 Crew Rescued
GEORGE TOWN, May 20 (Bernama) -- A barge operating at the sand rehandling station experienced stability issues near the Silicon Island project site at about 11.18 am today. Chairman of Silicon Island Development Sdn Bhd Datuk Seri Farizan Darus said that all 11 crew members comprising two Malaysians, one Chinese national and eight Indonesians were rescued without injury. He said initial assessments indicate that operational factors, including a possible issue with the discharge pipe, might have affected the hopper load during the offloading process.
New Straits Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Stability issue hits barge at Silicon Island project site; no injuries reported
GEORGE TOWN: A barge operating at the sand rehandling station of the Penang Silicon Island project site experienced a stability issue this morning. Fortunately, all 11 crew members on board, comprising two Malaysians, one Chinese national and eight Indonesian nationals, were successfully rescued without injury. Silicon Island Development Sdn Bhd chairman Datuk Seri Farizan Darus said initial assessments indicated that operational factors, including a possible discharge pipe issue, had affected the hopper load during offloading. "Our emergency response team was immediately deployed to the site to manage the situation. "This includes implementing precautionary measures to contain any potential oil spillage," he said in a statement this evening. Farizan said the Marine Department, the Department of Environment (DOE), and other relevant agencies were promptly notified of the incident. "The project developer is fully cooperating with the relevant authorities, and Penang Infrastructure Corporation Sdn Bhd will continue to monitor the situation closely," he said. Earlier today, it was reported that reclamation works for the Penang Silicon Island project were progressing smoothly, with some 60ha reclaimed as of last month, since work commenced in September 2023. State Infrastructure Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said the reclaimed area accounted for around 6.5 per cent of the total 920ha designated for Silicon Island.
Barnama
21-04-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Penang Moves To Protect Marine Ecosystem Amid Silicon Island Development
GENERAL GEORGE TOWN, April 21 (Bernama) -- Penang will deploy artificial reefs and fish aggregating devices (unjam) in the waters off Pulau Kendi to protect and conserve the marine ecosystem in the southern region of the state affected by the Silicon Island project. Penang Infrastructure Corporation (PIC) chief executive officer Datuk Seri Farizan Darus said the pilot project is part of the Silicon Island Ecological Offset Master Plan (PEOM), a collaboration between the state government via PIC, project developer Silicon Island Development Sdn Bhd and Universiti Sains Malaysia's Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (CEMACS). He said the initiative is a long-term commitment to ensuring balanced development of Silicon Island and, as a proactive step, to create new habitats for marine life, benefiting the local fishing community. 'The design and location have been approved by the director-general of Fisheries Malaysia, with support from the Penang State Fisheries Department, Fisheries Research Institute in Batu Maung, Penang branch of the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority, and the South Penang Island Fishermen's Association. 'The approval, which was granted on April 15, 2025, also outlines conditions, such as continuous monitoring to assess the effectiveness of the artificial reefs,' he said at the launch of the Artificial Reef and Unjam Deployment programme today by Penang Deputy Chief Minister I and Fishermen Taskforce Committee chairman Datuk Dr Mohamad Abdul Hamid. Farizan said two sets of artificial reefs will be deployed starting tomorrow, as part of the initial phase, with selected locations based on detailed studies conducted by CEMACS. Additionally, two unjams will be placed at the site of the 'Taiwan Ship' wreck to the west of Pulau Kendi, an area frequently used by fishermen from southern Penang and protected from trawler activity. 'To stabilise the structures, two small reefs will be used as anchors for each unjam, which will also help create new habitats on the seabed. 'As a safety and monitoring measure, the reef area will be marked with temporary buoys to alert marine users about the presence of underwater structures,' he said.
Malay Mail
21-04-2025
- Science
- Malay Mail
Eco project off Pulau Kendi aims to support Penang fishermen, restore coral
GEORGE TOWN, April 21 — Eighteen sets of artificial reefs and two fish aggregating devices (unjam) have been deployed near the waters off Pulau Kendi to attract marine life to the southern side of the main island. Penang Infrastructure Corporation (PIC) chief executive officer Datuk Seri Farizan Darus said the initiative is aimed at providing long-term benefits for the local fishing community. 'The deployment of artificial reefs aims to create new habitats for marine life, while the unjam structures are designed to attract and concentrate fish in designated areas,' he said after the deployment of the devices from Gat Lebuh Macallum here this morning. He said the programme is part of the state government's comprehensive efforts to protect and restore the marine ecosystem in the waters of the Penang South Islands (PSI), where the Silicon Island project is being developed. The programme is part of the PSI Ecology Offset Masterplan (PEOM). He said it is the result of a strategic collaboration between the state government through PIC, project developer Silicon Island Development Sdn Bhd (SIDSB), and research experts from Universiti Sains Malaysia's Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (CEMACS). He added that programme was carefully planned by experts and supported by relevant agencies such as the Penang Fisheries Department, Fisheries Research Institute, and the Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia. 'We believe this scientific and holistic approach will have a positive impact on the marine ecosystem here,' he said. Farizan said the state government has approved a research grant to CEMACS to conduct research on coral recruitment. 'This study will help us to plan a more scientifically effective way of rehabilitating the coral reefs,' he said. CEMACS director Prof Datuk Dr Aileen Tan said her research team would carry out initial monitoring and assessment of the artificial reef and unjam deployment areas to evaluate their effectiveness. 'Our team will continuously analyse data from this pilot project and present the findings to the state government, along with recommendations for improvements if needed,' she said. She said long-term monitoring and maintenance of the deployed structures, especially during the first five years, must be conducted. 'This is important to ensure that every step taken delivers maximum impact for the recovery and stability of the marine ecosystem,' she said. Penang Deputy Chief Minister and Fishermen Taskforce Committee chairman Datuk Mohamad Abdul Hamid, who officiated the initiative today, said PEOM's comprehensive plan includes mangrove planting, fish and prawn restocking, research grant disbursement, and eco-shoreline enhancement. He said the prawn restocking programme, scheduled for this Wednesday, is now in its third phase. 'Fish restocking is expected to begin in May,' he said. To date, a total of 23,200 mangrove trees have been planted.
New Straits Times
21-04-2025
- Science
- New Straits Times
Penang enhances marine ecosystem with artificial reefs, fish aggregating devices
GEORGE TOWN: Penang has deployed artificial reefs and fish aggregating devices in the waters near Pulau Kendi to provide long-term benefits for the local fishing community. The programme is part of the state government's comprehensive efforts to protect and restore the marine ecosystem in the southern waters of Penang, where the Silicon Island project is being developed. A key initiative under the PSI Ecology Offset Masterplan (PEOM, the project is the result of a strategic collaboration between the state government through Penang Infrastructure Corporation San Bhd (PIC), project developer Silicon Island Development Sdn Bhd (SIDSB), and research experts from Universiti Sains Malaysia's Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (CEMACS). PIC chief executive officer Datuk Seri Farizan Darus said the deployment of artificial reefs is aimed at creating new habitats for marine life while the fish aggregating structures were designed to attract and concentrate fish in designated areas. "This programme is among the early measures of a broader conservation strategy under PEOM. "It has been carefully planned by experts and supported by relevant agencies such as the Penang Fisheries Department, the Fisheries Research Institute and the Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia. "We believe this scientific and holistic approach will have a positive impact on the marine ecosystem here," he said. Present to officiate the initiative was Penang Deputy Chief Minister | and Fishermen Taskforce Committee chairman Datuk Dr Mohamad Abdul Hamid. Mohamad said the initiative was not merely symbolic but part of the PEOM's comprehensive implementation. "It also includes mangrove planting, fish and prawn restocking, research grant disbursement and eco-shoreline enhancement. "All these are implemented with the main objective of protecting the environment and securing the long-term interests of local fishermen," he explained According to Mohamad, the prawn restocking programme scheduled for this Wednesday has entered its third phase, while fish restocking is expected to begin in May. To date, a total of 23,200 mangrove trees have been planted. A research grant has also been awarded to CEMACS for a study on coral recruitment as part of the coral reef rehabilitation efforts around Pulau Kendi. CEMACS director Professor Datuk Dr Aileen Tan explained that her research team would carry out initial monitoring and assessment of the artificial reef and fish aggregating structure deployment areas to evaluate their effectiveness. The Penang South Island (PSI) reclamation project is a Penang state government-owned development. The reclamation of PSI's Silicon Island, previously known as Island A, is undertaken by SIDSB.
