Safety of solar panel factory questioned

PETALING JAYA: Gerakan has dared the Penang government to come clean on the negative environmental impact of a solar panel factory in Batu Kawan.

Kedah Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang said Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng must explain to the public if he had taken into consideration the environmental impact before approving the setting-up of the plant to produce solar panels and related components.

“The Guardian (England) published an article last September which highlighted residents in China objecting to a solar panel producing plant in view of concerns over the hazardous impact on the environment, including river and air contamination,” Tan said, in response to news reports that the state government had given approval to a foreign company to build the plant.

The company had reportedly paid 20% (Rm11.6mil) as a downpayment for the purchase of a 32.5ha plot of factory land.

“I agree that solar power is a clean source of energy but the production of solar panels adversely affects the environment.”

Meanwhile, Wira Perkasa challenged the Penang government to build 1,000 low-cost units in Bayan Mutiara, as controversy over the sale of the prime land continues.

Penang Wira Perkasa chief Rizuad Azudin said he would vote for Pakatan in the coming election if Lim accepted his challenge to build 1,000 low-cost units in Bayan Mutiara.

“If Barisan Nasional takes over Penang, I will challenge them to build 2,000 low-cost units on the island,” he said at a Speakers Corner session at Esplanade.

I agree that solar power is a clean source of energy but the production of solar panels adversely affects the environment. — TAN KENG LIANG