Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng today rebutted Gerakan's claim that a solar panel manufacturing plant to be built in Batu Kawan on mainland Penang may pose health risks and environmental pollution to the area.

The RM2.2 billion project by Bosch Group of Germany, Lim said, had been approved by federal government agencies, including the Department of Environment (DOE) and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida).

"Do you know that getting the DOE to give approval to Pakatan Rakyat state projects is very difficult, compared with BN states?

"Malacca and other BN states also have such solar plants. Why are they only targeting Penang but not other BN states?

"So, I think you know the answer. It is again just pure politicising," Lim told reporters after attending a dialogue with Chinese education rights group Dong Jiao Zong in Kajang this afternoon.

"Solar power is renewable energy. If even clean energy is not acceptable, what else do we want to go for?" he added.

NONEThe issue was raised by Kedah Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang, who has repeated his claim of dangers from the planned solar plant on his Twitter page continuously for a couple of days.

Tan cited a solar panel manufacturing plant in China that was closed because of the pollution it caused.

Wire service Bernama reported Penang Gerakan Youth complaints and services bureau chief Rich Too (left) as demanding today that the Penang government should explain the reasons for locating the plant in a residential area.

"We also want to know if the people there had been consulted before embarking on this venture," Too told reporters.

Malacca has established a technology park at Rembia, dubbed the Malacca World Solar Valley, and has attracted several of the world's biggest solar panel makers to set up their manufacturing plants there.