GEORGE TOWN, May 21 -- The Penang state government does not plan to gazette the Middle Bank Marine Sanctuary, according to state executive councillor H'ng Mooi Lye.

The state local government, town and country planning committee chairman said the Middle Bank cannot be gazetted as this would classify it as an environmentally sensitive area.

"Any projects implemented within a 500-metre radius of an environmentally sensitive area would require a Second Schedule Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report," he told Malay Mail recently.

He said this could affect planned projects near the area and might also impact the Penang Port expansion project.

H'ng was clarifying his response to a written question by Lee Khai Loon (PKR-Machang Bubuk)...