GEORGE TOWN, April 19 -- The National Physical Planning Council's (NPPC) guideline for Penang to fulfill before implementing its Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project was not an actual approval, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow clarified today.

Chow agreed with Federal Territories Minister Khalid Abdul Samad's statement that the NPPC did not give any approval for the project but had advised the state government instead.

Stressing that his statement yesterday had used the word bersetuju which meant "agreed" with an 18-point advisory to the state, the Penang lawmaker said the state will need to comply with these 18 points first before implementing the project.

"We agree that the NPPC did not issue an approval, it only issued advice because ...