Save Sabah!

Michael Kaung

| February 17, 2011

Conservationists in Sabah can celebrate now that a highly contentious project has been scrapped.

KOTA KINABALU: The Barisan Nasional (BN) government has scrapped plans to build the controversial coal-powered plant in Lahad Datu.

Caving in to pressure to keep Sabah clean and green, Chief Minister Musa Aman said the government had scrapped “once and for all” any bid to put up a  coal-powered plant anywhere in Sabah in the interest of the environment.

Making the announcement after chairing the state Cabinet meeting today, he said both the federal and state governments have agreed to pursue alternative energy sources like natural gas to meet the state’s energy needs.

“On behalf of the state government and the people of Sabah, I wish to accord my heartfelt thanks to our Prime Minister (Najib Tun Razak) for not only being attentive to our power supply needs but also for his grave concern for our environment,” Musa said.

He added that Najib has told Tenaga Nasional Bhd and Petronas to come up with alternative clean energy fuels such as natural gas to replace the proposed 300MW coal-fired plant in Lahad Datu.

Najib, he said, understood that while there was a need to boost the state’s power supply, it could not be done at the expense of the people’s welfare and the environment.

“The prime minister understands that one of Sabah’s greatest assets is its natural attractions and still somewhat pristine environment.

“While Sabah needs to increase power supply to meet increasing development, the state cannot afford to put its natural environment at risk,” he added.

Protect the environment

Musa said that it was the paramount duty of a responsible government to give priority to protecting the environment and its people.

“We must protect the environment, especially when it is the biggest tourism draw,” he said, adding that the growth of eco-tourism depended how best the state kept its natural environment and not expose it to unnecessary risks.

“I know there have been certain objections to the proposed coal plant. Today is proof that such objections have not fallen on deaf ears,” he added.

A proposed coal-powered plant in Lahad Datu came under intense public criticism and a detailed environment impact assessment was rejected by the Department of Environment.

However, Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd, through its subsidiary Lahad Datu Energy Sdn Bhd, had made attempts to re-submit the report in the hope of starting construction of the plant in Tunku in Lahad Datu.

NGOs, including the Sabah Environment Protection Association (Sepa), had started campaigning more than two years ago to prevent the construction of such a plant. Consequently, the site of the plant was shifted three times due to bitter opposition from residents in the east coast
of the state.

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Posted on February 17, 2011, Thursday

KOTA KINABALU: The government has agreed not to build coal-fired power plants in Sabah.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said the decision was made at the recent National Economic Advisory Council meeting chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

“I am aware there are protests against the proposed construction of a coal power plant. Today, it’s proven that all the protests have been given due attention.

“The Barisan Nasional (BN) government under the prime minister’s leadership is a government that always listens to the voices and feels the pulse of the people. We have high determination and political will to make the decision which was not easy, namely not to build coal power plants in Sabah,” he told reporters after chairing the State Cabinet meeting here yesterday.

Musa expressed appreciation on behalf of the state government and Sabah people to Najib who had not only given serious attention to energy needs in Sabah but also showed high concern for the environment.

The proposed construction of a coal power plant in Felda Sahabat, Lahad Datu, to meet electricity supply needs in Sabah East Coast has previously received objections not only from local non-governmental organisations but also international activists.

In August last year, the Environment Department had rejected the Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (DEIA) for the project but Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB), in its 2010 Annual Report, mentioned that “a reviewed DEIA report will be submitted for study and approval” for a 300MW plant.

“The prime minister also understands that among valuable assets that belong to Sabah is its appealing natural environment which is still preserved.

“We need to protect our treasure, particularly the natural environment because it is among major contributors to the state’s economic sector,” Musa added.

The growth of ecotourism activities and nature adventure tours, he said, depended on how far the natural treasure could be preserved and not exposed to any risks.

He said the government was aware of the problem of energy shortage in Sabah, particularly in the East Coast area.

In this regard, the federal and state governments had agreed to use liquefied natural gas (LNG) to generate power in the state, he said. — Bernama

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