Protect Karpal Singh Drive said checks on the environment department’s database showed the latest environmental impact assessment (EIA), submitted on March 18, was marked “not approved”.

The group said the rejection of the project, linked to PLB Engineering Bhd, followed chief minister Chow Kon Yeow’s earlier pledge that no more time would be given if EIA approval was not obtained by Feb 26.

“Protect Karpal Singh Drive asks one simple question – if the chief minister’s pledge meant what it said, how was a fifth EIA submission allowed after the deadline had already expired?” it asked in a statement.

The group also said 98.6% of public feedback during the consultation process opposed the reclamation component, adding that residents support cleaning up the old landfill, which they described as urgent and long overdue.

Its chairman Dr K Ganesh also said the state should stop “hiding behind process”, end the reclamation plan and start work on the public park residents had long been promised.

The group called on the state to confirm that no further extensions would be given, end PLB Engineering’s role, make public all environment department rejection letters and remove the reclamation plan from future proposals.

It also called for safe landfill rehabilitation, a public park, protection for the Middle Bank sanctuary and an independent health impact assessment before any work starts.

The committee said it had asked Chow to respond publicly by May 7. FMT has contacted the state authorities for comment.