Unrealistic air quality figures for controversial Penang highway, asserts scholar

Roger Teoh, a PhD postgraduate studying at the Centre for Transport Studies, Imperial College London, has come up with an immediate rebuttal of the Penang state government’s latest attempt to defend the RM9bn mega highway project proposed by a major contractor and two Penang-based developers.

This morning, the Penang State Government issued an official reply ([1] https://m.malaysiakini.com/news/435983, [2] https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10156642644389169&id=331360574168, [3] https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/07/26/penang-cm-slams-ngos-over-highway-project-criticism/) to the dubious air quality measurements in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Pan Island Link 1 (PIL 1) highway, which were highlighted in my article “New Penang Highway: Impact on air quality, health not accurately reported”. My article was published last week by Free Malaysia Today (FMT) (http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2018/07/22/new-penang-highway-impact-on-air-quality-health-not-accurately-reported/) and Guang Ming Daily (attachment above).

In the latest press statement/reply from the Penang Chief Minister, YAB Chow Kon Yeow shot himself in the foot by publishing additional air quality data measured in the vicinity of University Sains Malaysia (USM), where the background concentrations for Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) ranged between 18 to 25 µg/m³ with an annual average of 19.6 µg/m³ (See figure 1 below). This further reinforces and reconfirms my suspicion that the Air Quality Measurements reported in Table 6.1.16 of the DEIA which showed 10 out of 12 air quality monitoring stations with excellent air quality of background NO₂ concentration of <1 µg/m³ were unrealistic and must be thoroughly questioned.

Figure 1: Additional Air Quality Data in Penang released in the latest press statement from the Chief Minister YAB Chow Kon Yeow

Figure 2: Reported air quality measurements extracted from the PIL 1 Environmental Impact Assessment.

[Point 5 of the extract from CM’s Press Release] “The modelled value i.e. 40 µg/m³ cannot be directly compared to the project site as the climate conditions differ between Malaysia and United Kingdom where there is no winter conditions. The modelled value usually represents this period due to low dispersion characteristics”

In my earlier article, due to the initial lack of air quality data in Penang, a comparative case study of London was selected to illustrate that an NO₂ background concentration of < 1 µg/m³ as claimed in the DEIA were invalid and cannot be trusted. London recorded background NO₂ concentrations of between 15 µg/m³ (outer London) and 40 µg/m³ (Central London). The latest Penang air quality data released by the Chief Minister (annual average NO₂ concentration of 19.6 µg/m³) clearly showed that it is within data range of London, AND NOT < 1 µg/m³ as claimed in the DEIA report.

It is also worth reminding the reader that the Malaysian Ambient Air Quality Standard (MAAQS) is expected to get more stringent over time. Therefore, the expected tightening of air quality regulations in Malaysia must also be considered if the PTMP is really a “long term solution” as claimed by SRS Consortium. We cannot assume that background NO₂ and PM levels near the proposed highway will continue to comply with future Malaysian Air Quality Standards. The latest press release by the chief minister fails to adequately address this concern.

Given the latest press statement from the CM, I urge the Penang State Government to engage in more productive and rational debates backed by data, and not to suppress productive debates by labelling NGOs as ‘spreading fake news’. Such moves will not clear the air. Instead, the Penang State Government should take this exercise for public review of the DEIA to get the consultants to provide data for constructive discourse and live up to its Competency, Accountability and Transparency (CAT) slogan. There is no need to engage in rhetoric.