Stop Playing Games on Green Energy, Ministry Told

PRESS RELEASE

KOTA KINABALU (22nd Dec 2010): Green SURF (Sabah Unite to Re-Power the Future) has slammed the Federal Government for taking action that goes against its own policies and commitments in powering a green economy.

The group said the Government, in particular the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry, is confusing the people by stating that a coal-fired power plant will be built in Sabah, despite its own policies and pledges on using renewable energy and cleaner sources to provide electricity.

The latest statement from Green SURF comes in wake of Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Peter Chin’s reply to Senator Datuk Maijol Mahap at the Dewan Negara sitting on Monday that the coal plant proposed for Sabah will go ahead as it is the best option to ensure uninterrupted power supply.

Chin said a Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (DEIA) study will be resubmitted, and that the Federal Government will form closer cooperation with the State Government, relevant agencies, the developer and residents.

Green SURF representative Wong Tack said the Government was not listening to the people of Sabah who have repeatedly rejected the coal plant from the time it was first proposed for Silam in Lahad Datu, and later in Sandakan.

“One minute the Government is promoting green technology, especially when it makes statements at international platforms. The next minute, it is pushing for a coal plant in Sabah, known for its biodiversity.

“How can the Government even say it’s listening to the people? This latest statement by Peter Chin is a total disappointment. The Minister must either be totally deaf or protecting some interests, instead of protecting interests of the people.

“Actions taken by the Government in pushing for this coal plant are totally against their own words and policies, and the arrogant attitude of the Minister (Peter Chin) is not acceptable, and in fact, is hard to swallow,” Wong said in a statement issued today.

On Tuesday, Chin was quoted as saying that the Government needs to play an active role to ensure green technology in Malaysia is able to grow, and that his Ministry was doing everything possible to encourage commercial and industrial enterprises and competition in green technology.

Last week, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak chaired the Green Technology and Climate Change Council meeting in Parliament, and stated on his Facebook page that he had attended the meeting, describing it as “the way forward and we can’t afford to be left behind.”

Meanwhile, Wong said Najib must keep his promise of increasing interactions with the people both online and in person as stated in his latest posting on his 1Malaysia blog.

“Green SURF has tried to meet the Prime Minister on numerous occasions. We even went to Parliament, but failed to see him. When he came to Kota Kinabalu, we were blocked from meeting the Prime Minister.

“If the Prime Minister truly wants to listen to the people, he should allow Green SURF to meet him,” Wong said.

Green SURF was founded over a year ago by five NGOs – Sabah Environmental Protection Association (SEPA) of which Wong is president, Land Empowerment Animals People (LEAP), WWF-Malaysia, Partners of Community Organisations (PACOS) and Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) Sabah.

Following fierce objections by Green SURF and other organisations and individuals, the federal Department of Environment rejected the DEIA study for the plant in August.

However, last month, Tenaga Nasional Berhad which is the parent company of Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd, stated in its annual report that the DEIA would be resubmitted.

***

Chin Has Failed as Minister for Green Technology: Green SURF

PRESS RELEASE

KOTA KINABALU (2nd December 2010): The protest for the 300 megawatt coal-fired power plant is based on studies that show Sabah has other options to meet its power shortage problem.

Green SURF (Sabah Unite to Re-Power the Future) said the environment, health and food security were other factors in saying no to the proposed project which has been relocated twice following repeated rejections.

Green SURF representative Wong Tack said this in response to Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Peter Chin’s statement that it was wrong for those opposing the move to “object for the sake of objecting.”

Wong said it was clear that Chin had failed to read various reports including the one prepared by world renowned energy expert, Prof Daniel Kammen which Green SURF had commissioned.

“The study shows the other options that Sabah has including biomass from oil palm waste, and geothermal energy, apart from gas which comes from our shores.

“The study listed cost effectiveness of the options in comparison to coal. It is wrong for Chin to indicate through his statement that renewable energy is only about tapping energy from the sun. We are not only talking about solar energy,” Wong said in a statement issued today.

Wong also questioned Chin for stating that renewable energy was not matured enough at present, and that those objecting should reconsider.

“The Minister (Chin) is not mature enough about renewable energy, and is irresponsible. The issue has been on the table for so long and he is talking as though it’s the first day of the campaign against the project.

“I would like to repeat my past call for him to resign. He is not qualified to be there. He is a “black” minister for supporting coal, not a green minister.

“What is the point of having the words green technology in the Ministry’s portfolio? This is just green washing to show the world Malaysia is going green,” he said.

Wong also said the push by the Ministry for a coal plant was an embarrassment and insult to the Prime Minister who had told the world in Copenhagen last year that Malaysia would cut its carbon emissions by 40 per cent in 2020 compared to 2005 levels.

Tenaga Nasional Berhad recently stated in its annual report that Lahad Datu Energy Sdn Bhd will resubmit its Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (DEIA) study, but failed to report that the Department of Environment (DOE) rejected the study in August.

***

Fossil fuels will remain a long-term option: Peter Chin

Fossil fuels will remain a long-term option: Peter Chin By Joseph Masilamany PETALING JAYA (Nov 27, 2010): The exploration and continued usage of fossil fuels will remain a long-term option in the country, Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister, Datuk Seri Peter Chin told reporters today. Chin said that the country is not fully ready to embrace the use of renewable energy sources as the technology is expensive and the expertise required to switch to environmental-friendly energy sources is yet to mature during a press conference after launching Man from Borneo, an autobiography authored by La Salle (Brother) Datuk Michael Jaques . Chin said this when asked to comment on the planned re-submission of a Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (DEIA) by Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) for a proposed coal-fired power plant in Lahad Datu, Sabah. The planned re-submission of the DEIA by the utility company came under fire from environmental group Green SURF (Sabah Unite to Re-Power the Future). The group is shocked that although the Department of Environment had rejected the study in August, TNB had stated in its 2010 Annual Report that a revised report will be re-submitted for review and approval of the project that will generate 300MW of energy. Green SURF is concerned that the coal-fired plant to be located between the rainforests of Tabin and the Coral Triangle at an eco-sensitive area of the state. Chin, however, said that country has to rely on traditional sources of fuel as it needs 30,000MW of energy. “All countries in the world are still largely dependent on fossil fuel, and for us, deriving energy from renewable sources is still an option, unlike France which is supported by 90% nuclear energy,” Chin said. He also said if the site in Sabah is not suitable, alternate sites can be found. “We do not just give up,” he said, citing the coal-fired energy plant in Manjung, Perak. “The people of Manjung, are comfortable, although they are living close to this plant,” he added. -- theSun

Updated: 06:51PM Sat, 27 Nov 2010

Green SURF takes TNB to task over intention to resubmit DEIA

GREEN SURF PRESS RELEASE

KOTA KINABALU (26th Nov 2010): Green SURF (Sabah Unite to Re-Power the Future) is shocked and disappointed that a revised Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (DEIA) study will be resubmitted for a proposed coal-fired power plant in Lahad Datu.

The coalition said although the Department of Environment (DOE) rejected the study in August, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) has in its 2010 annual report stated that a “revised DEIA report will be resubmitted for review and approval” for the 300 megawatt plant.

The utility company had in one-paragraph stated that a DEIA study was submitted on May 26 to the DOE, followed by a sentence that it would be resubmitted, without making any mention of the rejection.

Green SURF representative Wong Tack, pointed out that the project has been rejected before and relocated twice, wasting time, money and effort on debating a dirty energy source.

“Sabah should be leveraging on its position as a biodiversity hub to attract investments for green power. Instead, we are wasting time on this proposed coal plant.

“There is commitment among the international community to support forest, wildlife and marine conservation work in Sabah and here we are talking about building a coal plant between the rainforest of Tabin and the Coral Triangle.

“Building a coal plant in Sabah , and especially next to the Coral Triangle, does not just break the hearts of locals, but also the world,” he said in a statement issued by Green SURF today.

The coalition sent a reminder that early this month Sabah hosted an international conference on forests and climate change, where the issue of carbon trading was raised as an alternative to logging in earning revenue, conserving key wildlife habitats in the process.

“It doesn’t make sense that we are trying to attract investments in carbon trading if we are going to have a coal plant at an eco sensitive area. We don’t deserve international support for conservation or investments for carbon trading if this is the case,” Wong said.

Green SURF is a coalition of NGOs comprising the Sabah Environmental Protection Association (SEPA) of which Wong is president, Land Empowerment Animals People (LEAP), WWF Malaysia, Partners of Community Organisations (PACOS) and the Malaysian Nature Society (Sabah branch).

***

TNB gets second bite at coal-fired plant

TNB gets second bite at coal-fired plant

Joseph Sipalan | Nov 25, 10 1:40pm

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/149132

National power company Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) has indicated that it will continue with its plan to build the controversial 300MW coal-fired power plant in Lahad Datu, Sabah.

Despite its initial detailed environment impact assessment (DEIA) report being rejected by the Department of Environment (DoE) on Aug 18, the company has the option of appealing the decision.

"A revised DEIA report will be resubmitted for review and approval," the company said in a short entry in its 2010 annual report.

The coal-fired plant, to be built on Felda Sahabat land some 100km from Lahad Datu town, is the third incarnation of the project after it was rejected twice on environmental grounds.

The first proposal in 2007 was for the facility to be built in Silam, also in Lahad Datu. Two years later, the site was changed to Seguntor, Sandakan.

On both counts, the project saw fierce opposition from the public and environmental NGOs.

Second bid allowed

State tourism, culture and environment minister Masidi Manjun had said in August that both the state and federal governments had pledged not to press ahead with the project if the DEIA is rejected.

He however pointed out that TNB could still pursue the matter as "existing policy and procedures give (the) option" to the developer to carry out another DEIA report, in a bid to secure approval from the DoE.

The RM1.7 billion plant has come under heavy criticism over the past year, with NGO coalition Green SURF going as far as to accuse TNB of producing a DEIA designed to "mislead" the public into believing the facility is eco-friendly.

The proposed project was awarded to a consortium of TNB Remaco, Eden-Nova and a Sabah state-owned company. A special purpose vehicle company, Lahad Datu Energy Sdn Bhd, was formed to implement the project.

***

This coal plant has been REJECTED 3 times. This will be the FOURTH time TNB will be pursuing the coal plant in Sabah thus they openly DISRESPECT:

The peoples of Sabah

The State Government of Sabah

The Federal Government DoE Department of Environment

Land Empowerment Animals and People (LEAP) NGO

Partners of Community Organisations (PACOS TRUST) NGO

Sabah Environmental Protection Association (SEPA) NGO

Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) NGO

WWF Malaysia (NGO)


TNB, a public service utility, is holding The Peoples of Sabah and The State Government at ransom.

Gov Must Decide on Coal Plant: Green SURF

Press Release

KOTA KINABALU (25th October 2010): A coalition of non-governmental organisations here wants the Government to take a stand on the status of a proposed coal-fired power plant in Lahad Datu.

The request from Green SURF (Sabah Unite to Re-Power the Future) comes two months after the federal Department of Environment (DOE) rejected the Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment report for the 300 megawatt project.

Green SURF’s Mr Wong Tack said the coalition was still waiting for a decision on whether the project will continue.

“We would like to know the stand of the authorities, in particular the Sabah Government. Green SURF wrote to the Sabah Government over three weeks ago, but we have yet to get feedback.

“We hope the State Government will take a stand based on the importance of the east coast of Sabah as a marine habitat. A huge amount is now being invested for activities in these areas, including through the national Budget for 2011,” he said in a statement issued by Green SURF.

Wong said there was too much anxiety at present over the proposed plant, especially among members of the public who have been in touch with the coalition.

“The public is asking for the State to focus on developing energy from renewable and green sources,” Wong said.

He said the power shortage problem in Sabah was still serious, and that too much time has been wasted on plans for a controversial coal plant, which has seen proposed sites shifting three times.

Wong said a recent speech made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on the need to make a transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy as a way to create a firm foundation for a greener economy was in line with calls made by Green SURF.

Wong said the Renewable Energy Policy and Action Plan, and a dedicated statutory body called the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA Malaysia), must swing into work quickly.


He said the construction of a 300 megawatt Combined-Cycle Gas Power Plant in Kimanis as announced in the recent Budget must be expedited to increase electricity generation to meet rising demand.

The Budget also listed pioneer status and investment tax allowance for the generation of electricity from renewable sources and energy efficiency activities to be extended until Dec 31, 2015 and the implementation of a feed in tariff mechanism under the Renewable Energy Act to allow electricity generated by individuals and independent providers to be sold to electricity utility companies.

“This is not the time to just talk, but to do something. We are glad that better feed in tariffs are being considered for implementation. Such initiatives are needed for investors to take up renewable energy projects.

“The Government has to make it attractive for the private sector to play a role in developing green energy,” Wong said.

Green SURF comprises the Sabah Environmental Protection Association (SEPA) of which Wong is president, Land Empowerment Animals People (LEAP), WWF-Malaysia, Partners of Community Organisations (PACOS) and the Malaysian Nature Society (Sabah branch).

The Government is proposing to build a coal-fired power plant at this location in Kampung Sinakut, Lahad Datu. The area forms part of the Coral Triangle and the Sulu-Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion.

Borneo - Global Work Party is this SUNDAY!!

Visit the facebook event page. Click here.

10/10/10: Green SURF Joins Thousands Worldwide for Climate Solutions

Press Release

KOTA KINABALU (3rd October 2010): A Sabah event to raise awareness on climate change and renewable energy joins over 5,200 Global Work Parties that will be carried out worldwide on Oct 10 to push for a cut in carbon dioxide emissions.

Green SURF (Sabah Unite to Re-Power the Future), which has seen growing support from individuals who want clean energy, is holding events at the Tanjung Aru beach here and in Kampung Sinakut, Lahad Datu, ground zero for a proposed 300 megawatt coal-fired power plant.

The coalition of non-governmental organisations registered its Borneo-Global Work Party: Coast2Coast with 350.org, an international grassroots campaign aimed at mobilizing people to bring carbon dioxide emissions back down to and below the scientifically-determined safe level of 350 parts per million (ppm), from the current 390ppm level.

Green SURF’s Ms. Cynthia Ong said that being part of the worldwide network with more than 5,200 events in 175 countries is significant for Sabah, combining local efforts and coming together globally to fight dirty energy and promote clean energy.

“We are changing the energy conversation and we are excited to be part of a global climate change movement with 350.org,” Ong said in a statement issued by Green SURF today.

Green SURF members will work alongside the people of Kota Kinabalu and Kampung Sinakut to collect trash at both locations and spell out “350” on the beach. A local recycling plant will take the trash when the event ends.

Ong said the two beaches were chosen as venues to highlight their vulnerability to rising sea levels resulting from climate change.

She said the event that starts at 10.10am is also a platform to celebrate the first anniversary of the founding of Green SURF which has in a short span strengthened the civil society movement to address energy and related environmental and social justice issues.

“Our initial focus was on mobilizing around the coal-fired power plant issue in the east coast of Sabah and advocating for clean energy options. Within a year, we held numerous events, produced a clean energy options for Sabah report and built both local and global movements to support our campaign.

“The civil society voice is crucial for accountability and we want and need to be an integral part of the conversation; a civil society taking ownership and responsibility is a sign of an evolving society. We intend to stay, we intend to engage and we intend to influence,” she said.

Green SURF is made up of Land Empowerment Animals People (LEAP) of which Ong is Executive Director, WWF Malaysia, Sabah Environmental Protection Association (SEPA), Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) Sabah branch and Partners of Community Organisations (PACOS).

The five NGOs came together after the Federal Government announced the construction of a coal plant at Kampung Sinakut, at the shores of the Coral Triangle.

In mid August, the federal Department of Environment rejected the Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment for the proposed project.

The Devastating Effects of Coal Ash Pollution in China

Images of devastating effect of Coal Ash pollution in China, the same effect that might happen in here in Sabah, if we let them build the coal plant in Kg. Sinakut.

Villagers living near the Shentou number two power plant say they have reported the problems of coal ash pollution to the power station several times, but to no avail. One response has been the plant's programme of 'ecological management' that involves erecting dead stalks of maize around the coal ash disposal site to act as a 'wind break'. A spokesperson for the plant said it is paying extra compensation to villagers

One of the coal ash ponds near Shentou number two power plant, Shuozhou, Shanxi province.


To view more images, go to: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/gallery/2010/sep/16/pollution-coal-ash-china#/?picture=366690638&index=0

For further reading: True Cost of Coal : An Investigation into Coal Ash in China
Click the following link to download the PDF file:http://www.greenpeace.org/raw/content/china/en/press/reports/coal-ash-report-english-2010.pdf

DEIA REJECTED!! Plant however still not scrapped!!

Daily Express, Front Page, 19th August 2010

However, this DOES NOT MEAN that the plant is canceled, it does however help!

Well done to ALL the people who took the time to write to Department of Environment, we heard it helped. SO BIG THANK YOU TO ALL!

Stay tuned because this only stalls their plans and does not cancel it. It also (hopefully) means that now they have to look seriously into alternatives that are available today such as gas, biomass, energy efficiency (walk into a shopping mall and realise how much is wasted!).

Thank you all and keep vigilant on this issue. Feel empowered for we would not be HERE at this juncture without all of you! Well done YOU!

Cheers!

An Open Letter to the Prime Minister of Malaysia

An open letter to the Prime Minister of Malaysia

Dear Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak,

I write to you as a deeply concerned and saddened citizen of Malaysia. For most of the 45 years of my life, I have been proud to be Malaysian. Recently, I have become heartbroken to be Malaysian.

I am profoundly grateful to write this with the support of both my local communities in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo and California, U.S.A., and a larger world community. That said, I take full ownership of and sole responsibility for the views articulated in this letter; I express them from my stand as a mother, an earth citizen and a leader.

I founded and lead a public charity and non profit organization both in Malaysia and in the U.S., to bridge between worlds and build partnerships for ecological conservation. I have been at the front lines of the founding and mobilization of Green SURF (Sabah Unite to RePower the Future), the civil society movement opposing the construction of the 300 megawatt coal-fired power plant in Lahad Datu, Sabah, on the edge of the Coral Triangle, one of three of the world's most bio-diverse ecosystems. You know. You signed the 6-nation declaration between Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Solomon Islands to collectively protect this 1.6 billion acres of ocean. You also know of course of your pledge at Copenhagen to reduce carbon emission intensity by up to 40% by 2020. You likely also know that the plant will displace fishing communities who have been there for a long time - irreparably contaminating their livelihoods forever. And if you listened, you would also know that they do not want the "development" that your government is imposing on them.

One of the priorities of Green SURF was to study clean energy alternatives to the coal-plant, and propose them to the government. We collectively invested tremendous time and resources to identify and commission the expertise of Professor Daniel Kammen at Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory of University of California, Berkeley to conduct the Clean Energy Options for Sabah report. We had no notion of the outcome of the study, and results showed that Sabah is in an exceptional position to shift towards clean energy due to the availability of natural resources. We are in fact in an opportune position to lead the nation and the region in clean energy - the kind of leadership the world so urgently needs now. I wonder if you know that Sabah is the last coal power-free frontier of Borneo. FYI, the 5 core NGOs in Green SURF are amongst the largest, oldest and most recognized conservation groups in Sabah and Malaysia - collectively responsible for most of the conservation work in the nation, with partnerships that span the world.

We have tried every avenue available to communicate to you the results of our findings and to engage in discussion about the future of energy for Sabah. After months of unsuccessful attempts to meet with you, I can only conclude that you do not want to meet with us. This confuses and disturbs me. Your words in public are about listening to the rakyat (people) and hearing their views. A sizeable portion of the rakyat of Sabah has been doing everything within their power to be heard by you. To no avail. We have given you the benefit of the doubt that word is not getting to you, and yet we have met with those around you who promised they would convey our message to you. Many months, memos, reports, letters, faxes, emails and phone calls later, and we have not received a single response from you or any member of your administration. We also did our best at state level government, and have huge support from within the government but ultimately the message is that this is untouchable because "ini Najib mau" (Najib wants this).

Sir, my most consistent experience of your administration is stone walls, arrogance and insincerity. I am shocked by the behavior of the leadership of my nation. I find it patronizing, archaic, oppressive, blatantly and self-righteously elitist and top-down. I do not experience your administration as democratic, transparent, open, accountable or responsible. There is a deep incongruence between what you are projecting externally and what we have experienced internally. I can only surmise that you intentionally run your administration in this manner. Otherwise, it would mean that your leadership is incompetent and ineffective.

I am angry, and I am not willing to accept systemic disempowerment of our people. I am writing this open letter as a last resort. Sabahans are speaking up because we are deeply troubled and scared about the fate of our ecological and cultural legacy, and what we will be able to hand down to our future generations. Please show true leadership and listen. You and your administration have much to do to regain a modicum of respect amongst many Sabahans. If 1Malaysia is more than a PR campaign and is truly intended "to provide a free and open forum to discuss the things that matter deeply to us as a Nation", please walk your talk.

Yours sincerely, for the children,

Cynthia C Ong Gaik Suan
IC#

c.c. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
United Nations General Assembly
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Human Rights Watch
Amnesty International
The Parliament of Malaysia
Suhakam - Human Rights Commission of Malaysia
Professor Daniel Kammen, Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, U.S.A.
FaceBook, Twitter, blogs and websites
Local, national and international mainstream and alternative media


The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
(passed by United Nations General Assembly, 1948)
Article 21.

* (1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.
* (2) Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.
* (3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

WINS of Change

Inviting all to come and join us...

What: "WINS" of Change
Where: Suhakam Office, Centre Point Sabah (lift A, 8th floor CPS Tower)
When: 13th August 2010, Friday

Rapid Surveys of Marine Habitats on South Coast of Dent Peninsula

Review of the DEIA indicated a low density of marine surveys using an unsuitable methodology, indicating a seabed habitat largely devoid of sealife. In order to assess the validity of this assumption, a rapid survey of marine habitats was undertaken by a team of volunteers (and a professional photographer subsidised by a public donation). This field survey was supported by WWF-Malaysia and Sabah Environmental Protection Association (SEPA).

The surveys found a wide range of marine ecosystems; both pristine and under existing pressures from pollution due to agricultural development (Oil Palm Plantations and Palm Oil Mills).

The findings of this rapid assessment are not reflected in the DEIA, and impacts are therefore under assessed. These comments seek to highlight the marine conditions present in the area, and lead the reviewers of the DEIA (public and government) to reassess the validity of the baseline assessments, and the impacts stated in the DEIA.

The images below indicate some of the key findings of the rapid assessment.

Location map of the Proposed Project Site

Based on these comments, it is hoped that the review panel will request a more detailed marine habitat assessment using a wider variety of methods more appropriate to fringing reefs, mangroves, sandy mudflats and biotic reefs in the sub tidal area, as well as at a wider variety of water depths.

A detailed habitat map of the area should be produced to accurately show what the seabed conditions are and allow a detailed environmental impact assessment to be undertaken.

Prepared by:
Will Unsworth
Tan Kai Yee
Davies Austin Spiji


Submitted to DOE as public comments on the DEIA for the 300MW Coal Fired Power Plant Project, FELDA Sahabat, Sabah.

Call to Include SSME in Coal Plant Study

Include Sulu Sulawesi in coal plant study

http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=54069

by Sandra Sokial

July 31, 2010, Saturday

KOTA KINABALU: An in-depth study on the extent of the environmental impact of the proposed Lahad Datu coal-fired power plant on the Sulu Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion should be undertaken.Director of Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau of the Philippines, Theresa Mundita Lim, said this would help all affected nations to work together to mitigate the impact and probably address any possible implications as a result of the construction of the plant.

Theresa was responding to a question on the possible rise in sea temperature due to the coal-fired power plant operation, and its effect on marine life and seafood supply within the Sulu Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion, which also includes her country.

The proposed 300MW coal-fired plant is expected to be built at Kampung Sinakut in Lahad Datu, which utility company Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd claimed to be the only answer to overcome power supply problem, especially in the east coast of Sabah.

Theresa said anything undertaken on one side of the Sulu Sulawesi would always affect the other side of the area.

“That is why cooperation is very important for us. Whatever next step (we undertake), we should be able to think as one. We are not isolated in the Sulu Sulawesi Ecoregion.

“Everyone is affected, so we need to work with each other to mitigate any impact of any activity,” she stressed.

The Sulu Sulawesi Eco-region encompasses three countries – Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Too Early to judge DEIA report - Masidi

The Borneo Post, July 31st,2010

Re-Look Into DEIA Report

Bernama, Thursday, July 29, 2010 15:21 PM

KOTA KINABALU, July 29 (Bernama) -- There will be a re-look into the Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (DEIA) report on the proposed coal-fired power plant in Lahad Datu, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said Thursday.

He said he would ask state tourism, culture and environment minister Datuk Masidi Manjun to look into the DEIA to ensure it was properly done.

This followed allegations the DEIA was faulty and ridden with mistakes, Musa told reporters after opening the country's largest palm oil technology expo, Palmex 2010, here.

He was commenting on news reports on non-governmental organisations (NGOs) here, which claimed the DEIA was faulty and should be re-done.

On Wednesday, Green SURF (Sabah Unite to Re-Power the Future), a coalition lobbying for cleaner energy options for Sabah, wanted the DEIA report re-done, claiming some of its baseline data collections were inappropriate.

It said, the mistakes included comparison with the wrong ecosystem, mention of species foreign to Borneo and misrepresentation of the Orang Tidong and Orang Sungai who were classified as being of Indonesian origin.

The non-governmental coalition and state agencies were engaged in a DEIA panel meeting here on Tuesday.

According to Green SURF, on the basis the report was a scientifically inadequate representation of the area, the DEIA should be rejected by the department of environment.

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsgeneral.php?id=517319

Reject Assessment for Power Plant!

The Borneo Post, Thursday, 29 July 2010.



And remember to submit your comments to the DOE, deadline is on THIS FRIDAY!!
Click here

BM Version of EIA letters and points!

Dear friends,

If you need a BM version of the EIA letter and 14 points, please go here : http://bit.ly/BMversion

We have till Friday morning!!

Its time to act now before we lose beauty and wonder such as seen in this picture which will die as it is at off the waters at GROUND ZERO.

Green Surf

Time is running out...(EIA deadline this Friday)

Dear friends,

The deadline for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) comments is the 31st of July. While the term EIA sounds daunting everyone has the right to comment on this document.

To help regular folks like ourselves out, we have summarised the "problems" with the EIA out with 14 points of concern. Click here to view whole document or scroll down.

We have also composed a sample letter you can use to write your concerns to the Department of Environment (DOE). Click here or scroll down.

However, these letters MUST REACH THE DOE BY SATURDAY THE 31ST OF JULY. To make sure that these letters reach DOE by Friday, you can fax it directly to us at 088-244502. We will make sure it gets to the DOE by Friday.

These letters are extremely important but they need to be signed hence the faxing. They also need to have your name and IC number. If you need to send them via email please do so to nocoal.sabah@gmail.com but you will need to scan the letter as the letter needs your signature.

Whether you are Malaysian or not, please do take the time to write.

NOW IS THE TIME OF ACTION, OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE. LET'S DO IT.

Points of concern

====================================================================

Comments on Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (DEIA) for
the 300MW Coal-Fired Power Plant in Sinakut, Lahad Datu, Sabah.

Key points for public comments:

1. One of the objectives for the DEIA is to improve on the environmental design of the project. However, the public or technical people are unable to assess the environmental design as it is not outlined/described and it is therefore difficult to know the efficiency of the plant. For instance, the DEIA does not specify the type of plant parts used. To assess the plant, we need to know types of parts used for the coal plant as the type used will determine efficiency of the plant in the waste generated.

2. The potential mitigation measures mentioned in the DEIA are shallow and general. One of the objectives of the DEIA is to facilitate informed decision making. However, the DEIA report does not allow for this as there is a lack of basic design details, poor data on the marine environment, and assumptions of sufficiency based on no data are unacceptable at this level of review and assessment.

3. Compensatory mitigation for impact on marine environment, loss of income, health impact, greenhouse gases and others are completely overlooked.

4. Earthquake risk: It is inaccurate to say that the site is safe from earthquake tremors. The whole Dent peninsula is within the 40-100 kilometre range of earthquake tremors generated onshore and offshore. In April 2008, an earthquake at the Celebes Sea caused tremors in the Tungku area, near the proposed site. This resulted in cracks on several buildings including SMK Tungku and Hospital Tungku. A New Sunday Times article on 20th May 2007 quoted Sabah Mineral and Geoscience Department director Alexander Yan as saying Sabah has experienced 78 quakes in the last century.

5. Sampling done for the DEIA do not cover a wide enough range of sites to give a full understanding of the site and its surroundings. In short, sampling site chosen are not good enough to represent the area. In assessing the marine area, only two days were taken for sampling and why certain sites were chosen were not indicated. A habitat map showing sand, mud/silt, seagrass, rocks, corals and areas of high benthic diversity should have been done. Comparisons are made with far away locations and coral ecosystems instead of similar habitats. This is misleading.

6. There is no mention that Darvel Bay is home to resident and migratory marine animals like turtles, whale sharks, dolphins, dugongs and others.

7. Fish species used in the report as indicators are not representative of species found at the site. The species list should have been modified to cover locally common, unique or commercially important species.

8. There will be a large impact on larvae fish according to the study, but that there will be no impact on adult fish. It is misleading for the DEIA to state that there is no impact on adult fish as larvae wont have a chance to grow. Marine zones like seagrass, mudflats and mangroves are spawning areas for fish and crustaceans. Impact on fish larvae will effect fish populations over a wider area.

9. In its list of mammal species, the report stated two mammals that are not present in Sabah. The two are wild pig (Sus scrofa) and Dusky langur (Semnopithecus obscurus). In its list of bird species, the White rumped shama is not present in Sabah.

10. There is a lack of assessment and interpretation of results on phytoplankton. The report calculates Boyd’s Biodiversity index for phytoplankton and shows it to have a value approaching that of pristine waters, but this is not indicated.

11. The socio-economic study is doubtful. It states that the community in Kampung Sinakut are squatters, which cannot be the case for a traditional village with a village headman. The DEIA also states that “Orang Sungai” are of Indonesian descent. This clearly shows ignorance on the part of those doing the study.

12. A baseline study shows that acid rain is already present at the site with a pH of 4.66. There is a need to further study why acid rain is happening in the area. It is also wrong to compare agriculture and forested Dent peninsula with Petaling Jaya which is industrialised and urbanized.

13. Climate change as a major impact is not mentioned. The scope of the DEIA should include measures to minimise/mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from the proposed project.

14. Despite repeated newspaper articles that mention clean coal technology will be used, there is no mention of it in the DEIA. This is a cause of grave concern. Also there is no such thing as “clean coal technology” today hence it is extremely misleading to use this term.

===================================================================

Sample letter

===================================================================

xxst July 2010

To:
The Department of Environment, Malaysia.

Comments on the Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment for the 300 MW coal-fired power plant in Lahad Datu, Sabah.

Having read the DEIA report that was put up at some public places, I have a number of concerns on the overall project. There are glaring technical issues:-
• the existing physical environment has been wrongly represented by the consultants, thereby misleading the public;
• the full adverse impacts from the plant has not been discussed analytically,
• identification of species that do not exist in Sabah have been listed, and
• that potential mitigation measures are shallow and too general.

This does not allow me to assess the real situation. In short, the whole study is faulty and should be dismissed.

I would like to single out some points which I feel are important to Sabah’s tourism industry and our potential as a seafood basket for the nation and region. The following are my comments:

1. There is no mention that Darvel Bay is home to resident and migratory marine
animals like turtles, whale sharks, dolphins, dugongs and others.

2. Fish species used in the report as indicators are not representative of species found at the site. The species list should have been modified to cover locally common, unique or commercially important species.

3. There will be a large impact on larvae fish according to the study, but that there will be no impact on adult fish. It is misleading for the DEIA to state that there is no impact on adult fish as larvae wont have a chance to grow. Marine zones like seagrass, mudflats and mangroves are spawning areas for fish and crustaceans. Impact on fish larvae will effect fish populations over a wider area.


I am unimpressed with the way this study has been carried out, and I will continue to closely monitor the next step that the government takes on this plant.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Name
IC number

===================================================================

400 stage protest against coal-fired plan

Article taken from The Star Online
Sunday July 18, 2010



KOTA KINABALU: Some 400 people comprising villagers and folks from the east coast’s Lahad Datu district have voiced their opposition against a proposed 300MW coal-fired power plant.


In the one-hour gathering at the project site in Kampung Sinakut, some 60km from Lahad Datu town, the group held up banners to protest against the plant, which they said would have adverse effects on the environment.


The group included 200 people from Lahad Datu and a similar number from the seaside village of Kampung Sinakut.


“We will be first ones to feel any adverse environmental impact from this plant. That is why we are saying no,” said the group’s spokesman Vincent Ng.


He said Lahad Datu folks had also voiced their objections against the plant when giving their feedback on the project’s environmental impact assessment (EIA) report.


The demonstration was held even as officials from Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd, Tenaga Nasional Bhd and Lahad Datu Energy Sdn Bhd gave a briefing at a public forum in Kota Kinabalu.


Apart from assuring that the plant’s operations would have minimal impact on the environment, they said the coal would be mined in an area in Kalimantan, Indonesia, that would be replanted with trees.


“The coal for this power plant will not be from any Tom, Dick or Harry,” said TNB Fuel Services Sdn Bhd general manager for operations Zainal Abidin Shah Mahmood.


To a question, Zainal Abidin declined to say who was the owner of the coal mine in question, adding that this was a business issue.



Green Surf, a coalition of concerned groups including WWF Malaysia and the Sabah Envi­ronmental Protection Association, has objected to the plant.


Environmental groups also pointed out that the plant could have an adverse impact on the environmentally-sensitive Tabin Wildlife Reserve and the Coral Triangle, which Malaysia has pledged to protect.

New Sabah coal plant threat to ecosystem, says report

Article taken from The Malaysian Insider, click here for original link.

By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani

July 08, 2010

A villager walks in front of a coal-fired power plant on the outskirts of Shanxi province, China Nov 20, 2009. — Reuters pic

KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 — The proposed 300MW coal-fired power plant in Felda Sahabat, Lahad Datu could, at the very least, raise sea temperatures by four degrees Celsius and displace some 70 families, according to a federal government report.

According to documents made available to The Malaysian Insider, the power plant near Kampung Sinakut, Lahad Datu, will also result in the loss of a traditional seaweed farming area measuring 4km.

Lahad Datu is located within Tawau in eastern Sabah and occupies the peninsula on the north side of Darvel Bay. The district is also the gateway to the Danum Valley Conservation Area (160 km away), the Tabin Wildlife Reserve in the east (20km away), and Madai Caves in the south.

The report warned that exposure to the transiting ships from the plant may harm the coral and marine life.

“At the jetty, there is a chance of spillage of oil, chemicals and other pollutants into the sea caused by accidents such as collisions or sinkings. Should the tugboats and their towed barges accidentally transit across, or close to Gazetted Marine Parks, or should they anchor, they may cause damage to the coral and harm marine life,” said the report of the detailed environment impact assessment (EIA) for the project..

The effect on seaweed farming would have a detrimental impact on nearby settlements as the communities’ livelihoods were dependent on fishing and seaweed farming.

The construction activity would have an adverse affect on the safety of the fishermen.

“The construction of the jetty will reduce the size of the fishing ground available to the local fishermen. The area near the jetty will no longer be available for fishing because of the construction activities that may pose danger to fishermen and their vessels and gears.

“Fishermen safety may also be adversely affected since construction activities (including increased in vessel movements for transporting construction equipment and materials) can increase the risk of collision and accidents involving fishermen vessels,” said the report.

The 300MW plant worth more than RM1.3 billion was proposed to generate power supply to help spur development of the Palm Oil Industries Cluster (POIC) Lahad Datu.

The proposed power plant will have four power units, each having a net electrical output of 75MW, and will use the most widely-used method of burning coal to generate steam.

The report stated that the maximum total ash generation in the power plant is estimated at 49,000 tonnes per year.

Fly ash is generally from the chimneys of coal-fired power plants while bottom ash is removed from the bottom of coal furnaces.

Most of the fly ash and some of the bottom ash produced by the plant will be sold to local cement manufacturers for construction material, while ash which is not sold will be disposed off in a designated ash yard.

However, studies have shown that ash containment yards could lead to groundwater contamination, which is hazardous to the environment and the inhabitants.

The report pointed out that the large amount of waste from the construction could also pose environmental risks.

It is estimated that the amount of solid waste generated by the workers would be about 2,000kg daily.

The coal plant was initially proposed in Silam, near Lahad Datu, and Sandakan, but both were rejected by the state government following protests.

The report also warned that the site would also cause an increase in emissions of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon dioxide, along with a degradation in water quality.

Environmentalists and activists have voiced their concerns over the power plant because it would affect the state’s “last wilderness frontier.”

The power plant’s impact on marine life is a major factor because Darvel Bay is considered as one of the country’s main seaweed production centre.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry’s Fisheries Department has also identified the bay as the area most suitable marine industry development in Sabah.

Biomass Capability Potentially 1,000 MWs According to Private Sector (Of course not TNB!)

Take 2 minutes to watch this powerpoint presentation of the potential of biomass in Sabah!

Biomass Renewable Energy For Sabah

View more presentations from Aboleh Inc.

Activists ask PM to Scrap Power Plant

KOTA KINABALU: Some foreign non-governmental organisations and individuals are lending support to a local group that is protesting a plan to build a coal-fired power plant in Lahad Datu.

Letters have been sent to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and websites have been highlighting the appeal from Green Surf (Sabah United to Re-power the Future) in its campaign to scrap the proposal.

Among those who wrote to the prime minister were American environmentalist Julia Butterfly Hill, best known for staying in an ancient redwood for two years to prevent loggers from cutting down an old growth forest, and Australian environmentalist John Seed, the founder of Rainforest Information Centre, which has campaigned to save sub-tropical rainforests.

International environment organisation 350.org, which works on building global grassroots movements to cut carbon dioxide emissions, Four Years.Go and Wiser Earth are mobilising their networks to support the letter campaign.

In a statement, Green Surf said that the World Land Trust, Women's Earth Alliance and portal mongabay.com are among at least 30 organisations which have expressed concern over the construction of a coal plant between the Coral Triangle and the Tabin Wildlife Reserve.

The Sabah coal story was the top most read story, with almost 9,000 hits on the mongabay.com site in May.

Green Surf's Cynthia Ong said copies of some of the letters were sent to her. There was deep concern globally about the proposal to build a 300 megawatt plant in Sabah which is known for its orang utan, rare rhinos and marine sites like Sipadan.

"In their letters, the organisations were positive about our prime minister's commitment to reduce the carbon emission intensity by up to 40 per cent by 2020. They admire his leadership in the Coral Triangle Initiative.

"They commended Datuk Seri Najib for his commitment to exploring alternative energy sources following his acknowledgement that Malaysia's current fuel mix for power is skewed too much in favour of natural gas and coal."

Ong said those who had written to Najib stressed the fact that the developing world does not need to repeat the damaging mistakes of the developed world, which now need huge resources to repair.

"The developing world can lead the way for the world into the 21st century and beyond. Malaysia has strong potential to blaze that trail.

"The opportunity exists now for you to be a champion for Malaysia and for the world -- to move forward into a clean energy future," she said, elaborating on details in the letters.

The organisations have offered to stand by Malaysia if it decides to build a clean energy economy.

"There are many organisations and individuals who are concerned about this project. They have been asking us about the government's proposal," Ong said.

Green Surf is a coalition of five NGOs and individuals which are asking the government to opt for clean energy options to solve power woes in Sabah. Coalition members include WWF-Malaysia, Land Empowerment Animals People (Leap), Sabah Environment Protection Association (Sepa), Malaysian Nature Society-Sabah and Partners of Community Organisations (Pacos).

New Straits Times, 5th July 2010

Read more: Activists ask PM to scrap power plant http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/23fora/Article#ixzz0ssCvp8pS

Global Call to Scrap Coal Plant

Read more: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/7/5/nation/6605875&sec=nation

Lots of things Happening!

1. Check out our latest video, entitled Really Prime Minister?, quick and simple and hey Mr. Prime Minister answer us please. Send this video out to all your friends, lets VIRAL it!

We have also put a link on the top bar!

2. In the news!

Alternatives to coal option in Sabah

Written by Chan Kok Leong Thursday, 24 June 2010 11:06 - Last Updated Thursday, 24 June 2010 11:12
This article appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, June 24, 2010. Link to the original article here.

KUALA LUMPUR: A general sentiment of euphoria and a sigh of relief would have marked the prime minister’s announcement that three more power plants will be built in Sabah during the 10th Malaysia Plan.

The plants, with a total capacity of 700MW, are expected to be constructed in the five-year development master plan. “There has always been a case of suppressed demand in Sabah,” said Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok in welcoming the announcement.

“The state economy could be in a better position if industries were allowed to grow here. But it’s a chicken-and-egg situation. Because of the lack of power, industries are reluctant to move here and so power producers did not see the need to invest in improving their capacity,” said Dompok, the Member of Parliament for Penampang.

According to an independent report produced by the University of California, Berkeley, Sabah currently uses 700MW of the 900MW produced by Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) and five other independent power producers (IPPs). SESB currently operates three types of power plants — hydro (8%), diesel (10%), gas (60%), medium fuel oil (19%) and biomass (2%).

Forty-eight percent of the gas-powered plants are operated by IPPs. The report entitled Clean Energy Options for Sabah noted that electricity demand in the state was growing between 8%-10% from 2000-2006 while GDP grew at an average of 3%-4% for the same period. With consumption estimated to grow at 7%, Sabah will consume 1,000MW by 2015 and 1,500MW by 2015.

But for power-starved Sabah, the sense of respite was shortlived. Along with two gas-based plants in the west coast, the government had announced that a coal-powered plant would be built in the eastern part of the state. For Sabah, which has on average the highest incidence of power interruptions in the country, this would be their first coal-powered electricity plant.

SESB had planned to build a 300MW coal-powered plant in the Felda area of Tungku in Lahad Datu. This is the third attempt by the Tenaga Nasional Bhd subsidiary after efforts to have the plant in Silam, Lahad Datu and Sandakan were thwarted by the state government and local residents.

Now, SESB is again facing resistance from environmentalists and conservationists who are against its efforts to build the plant in the east coast of Sabah. According to Sabah Re-Unite to Power the Future (Green Surf), the location of the plant is too close to the Sulu-Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion, which lies off the northeastern coast of Sabah.

Its proximity to the Tabin Wildlife Reserve could have disastrous repercussions, Green Surf spokesperson Cynthia Ong told The Edge Financial Daily. Ong, who is from the Land Empowerment Animals People non-government organisation, and four other NGOs presented a memorandum in Parliament on Tuesday, urging the government to reconsider building the coal-powered plant in Sabah.

The group, comprising of Ong and representatives from Malaysian Nature Society, Partners of Community Organisations and WWF-Malaysia, presented the memorandum to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Douglas Unggah Embas and Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia.

“The impact from this plant will include pollution of the water and air and increased shipping through coral reefs to import coal from Indonesia. A coal plant in this location could have catastrophic implications on the ecosystem,” said Ong.

She added there are other alternatives to using coal to generate electricity in Sabah. “But it seems like the government has gone for the simplest option without considering other choices like biomass,” she added.

Dompok, who oversees palm oil industries, said that he could sympathise with the NGOs. “Sabah has always been a very green state and this should be preserved,” said the Upko president. He said that gas and biomass are good alternatives to power generation in Sabah as the state produces both items without having to import coal. Currently Sabah has the largest concentration of oil palm plantations in the country.

“Sabah has 12-13 trillion cubic feet of natural gas which can be tapped for power generation. With the current technology, liquefied gas can be transported from Kimanis on land to the east coast for power generation,” said Dompok.

The minister said that although the use of bio-gas and biomass plants to generate electricity is not yet a complete solution, it can still contribute towards power production in the state. As for rural areas which are not connected to the grid, Dompok said that micro-hydro stations are a viable option.

In the report Clean Energy Options for Sabah, the University of California researchers examined the use of biomass waste, hydropower, solar, wind, geo-thermal and demand-side energy efficiency in power generation for the state.

Using the data to generate cashflow projections and taking into account Malaysia’s “Pioneer Tax Allowance” and other incentives, the report concluded that biomass waste projects at large palm oil mills were cost-competitive with coal.

“Feeding unused palm oil waste into these efficient combustion systems solves two environmental problems at once; the problem of waste disposal in open ponds and landfills and the problem of supplying Sabah’s energy demand,” said the report in its executive summary.

“Based on 2008 palm oil industry production statistics, we calculate that 700MW of theoretical baseload capacity will be available from palm oil waste by 2020 and that over 400MW of this capacity is economically feasible and achievable via a four-project per year ramp-up programme,” it added.

The report also said that hydropower and other river-hydropower options were cost competitive with coal.

According to the report, geothermal was less cost-competitive while solar options are currently 10 times as expensive as coal in Malaysia although Sabah receives strong solar radiation.

DEIA OUT!! Lots of BS in it...

Dear friends,

Please take time to read and comment on this pathetic Detailed Environment Impact Assessment (DEIA), after comments are complied (we have a month until July 17th) then they should official approve or not or add conditions before building the plant.

You can download the whole report here at : http://www.sendspace.com/file/36en34

Be patient it will take a few hours! Read sections that you may contribute to and write to them (details in the DEIA) but most importantly post your comments at our Facebook page so we can compile everything! The link is : http://bit.ly/cOw5uO

Thank all, this is CRUNCH time! Let's act NOW!

Green SURF

Parliament to debate coal power-Malaysiakini

Photo taken from Malaysia Kini

Joseph Sipalan
Jun 15, 10
2:27pm

(Taken from Malaysia Kini, to subscribe to Malaysia Kini, go to: www.malaysiakini.com)

Original Malaysia Kini article link

Anti-coal power coalition Green Surf has made inroads into Parliament, persuading speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia to set aside time to debate the controversial coal-powered plant in Sabah.

Pandikar (right) gave his word that MPs from both sides of the divide will get 30 minutes each to debate the issue, though the issue is only expected to be raised when debate ends on the 10th Malaysia Plan.

The group spoke to Pandikar in his chambers today, at a meeting arranged by Sapp's Tawau MP Chua Soon Bui.

Also present were her Sapp colleague and Sepanggar MP Eric Majimbun, Putatan MP Marcus Mojigoh of Sabah-based BN party Upko, DAP's Kota Kinabalu MP Hiew King Chew and Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, and PKR's Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar.

“All I can do as speaker is to allow for this issue to be debated. Thirty minutes is a lot of time, and I hope the MPs who will speak on the issue will keep their focus on it,” Pandikar said told the group.

He advised the coalition to continue pushing its case through the relevant government channels, stressing that they should emphasise facts and figures and avoid using politically-tinged arguments.

At a press conference later, Green Surf member Cynthia Ong said the group acknowledges the need for more power in Sabah, but said the state and federal governments should look at the many renewable energy options available to the state.

“Our coalition commissioned a report from UC Berkley California, by one of the world's leading alternative energy experts. We have all the resources necessary to go renewable in Sabah... more than many places in the world,” she said.

“Sabah has been a regional leader in conservation, and we're trying to protect that. One of our biggest resources is eco-tourism, which is also something we're trying to protect.”

At the press conference, Nurul Izzah pointed out that the issue is one of the few that cuts across political lines, as it focuses on conserving a natural heritage that is important not only to Sabah but the nation.

Memo submitted

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz accepted a memorandum from the group on behalf of premier Najib Abdul Razak, and promised to raise the issue at the next cabinet meeting.

“I understand your sentiments and, as I said, I promise to bring this matter up and hope that something can be done. I also believe the reefs, the environment, once destroyed is lost forever,” he said.

We don't want to lose this heritage which belongs to the people of Malaysia.”

Copies of the memorandum were also presented to Natural Resource and Environment Minister Douglas Uggah Embas, the speaker and several Sabah MPs.

Letter from the WORLD to Malaysian Prime Minister!

Send letters from your part of the world to the Malaysian Prime Minister letting him know you too are concerned about the coal fired power plant in Sabah, North Borneo, Malaysia.

Link here for a link to a downloadable one at : Letter to PM

Or cut and paste below.

Thanks all.

Green SURF


YAB Datuk Seri Mohd. Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak
Office of The Prime Minister
Main Block, Perdana Putra Building
Federal Government Administrative Centre
62502 Putrajaya,
MALAYSIA

Tel : 603-8888 8000
Fax : 603-8888 3444
Email: najib@1malaysia.com.my

(Date)

A LETTER FROM THE WORLD TO MALAYSIA

Dear Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia,
We applaud your Copenhagen pledge to reduce Malaysia’s carbon emission intensity by up to 40% by 2020 and admire your leadership in establishing the Coral Triangle Initiative to protect 1.6 billion acres of some of the world’s richest marine resources.

Your recent acknowledgment that Malaysia’s current fuel mix for power generation is skewed too much in favor of natural gas and coal and your commitment to exploring alternative energy sources is commendable. Your leadership is setting an example for the rest of the world.

We are therefore shocked by your support for plans to build a 300MW coal-fired power plant in Lahad Datu, on the Malaysian edge of the Sulu-Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion, the apex of the Coral Triangle. As you know, this location is ecologically unique, home to 75% of all known coral species and more than half of the world’s reefs, vulnerable coastal communities, and neighbor to some of Sabah’s most precious ecosystems. Lahad Datu is a gateway to both the Tabin Wildlife Reserve, which serves as an oasis for large numbers of animals (some endangered), and to Danum Valley, largely recognized as one of the world’s most complex ecosystems. The Sabah government has begun the process to nominate neighboring Maliau Basin, one of Borneo’s most pristine and important habitats, as a World Heritage Site.

A coal-fired power plant in this area would be catastrophic for the most vulnerable and precious of our ecosystems, and any new coal plant in Malaysia will undoubtedly undercut your efforts to build a low carbon economy. In every case to date, coal has proven effective at supplying cheap energy, but at the expense of human health and longevity, biodiversity and power diversification. And if this coal-fired power plant is built, we know that more will follow and the once pristine wilderness and coral reefs will be subject to degradation and loss.

Malaysia, with its abundant resources, is in a unique position to spearhead the use of clean energy. You recently asked, “are there alternatives not yet considered, that could firmly establish Malaysia as a global green revolution leader?” The study Meeting energy demand in a developing economy without damaging the environment - a case study in Sabah, Malaysia, from technical, environmental and economic perspectives, conducted by Malaysian scientists at the Tunku Abdul Rahman University and accepted for publication by the journal Energy Policy, found that Sabah’s energy needs may be met with alternative renewable energy options at a competitive price, with less environmental impact, much lower emission of greenhouse gases, and better fuel security for Malaysia. Similarly, the study Clean Energy Options for Sabah presented in March 2010 by some of the world’s leading energy experts gives detailed recommendations on how to meet Sabah’s energy needs without the construction of the coal-fired power plant. It puzzles us as to why these reports and the alternatives they recommend have not been taken seriously. Malaysia could lead the world in a new era of renewable energy development if investors believe that you are serious in your commitment. We worry that your exemplary stance taken at Copenhagen will be seen as ‘hot air’ if the coal-fired power plant is approved, and drive away potential investment. Adding a 300 MW coal-fired power plant in Sabah (carbonizing strongly one state, and one that actually has the resource mix to decarbonize) makes a 40% national cut in carbon emission intensity impossible without cuts in other areas nationally that are simply not seen as possible.

By your pledge we know that Malaysia has a strong intention in solving the climate problem. A firm choice to halt building of coal-fired power plants is a major step towards a solution of the global warming problem. If Malaysia halted construction of this coal-fired power plant it could be a tipping point for the region and the world. There is still time to find that tipping point, but just barely. We hope that you will give these considerations your attention in setting your national policies. You have the potential to influence our joint futures on the planet.

Datuk Seri Najib, we cannot avert our eyes from the basic fossil fuel facts, or the consequences for life on our planet of ignoring these scientific facts. If we continue to build coal-fired power plants, and in ecologically sensitive areas such as Sabah, we will lock in future climate disasters associated with passing climate-tipping points. We must solve the coal problem now.

Though it is the responsibility of all of us to maintain the balance that exists on our planet, you, as Prime Minister, are in the privileged and hugely responsible position of guiding your country’s decisions. As a steward of your country and of this earth, we ask you to decide wisely for our children and for our children’s children.

The opportunity exists now for you to be a champion for Malaysia and for the world - to move forward into a clean energy future. The developing world does not need to repeat the damaging mistakes of the developed world, which now requires immense resources to repair; the developing world can lead the way for the world into the 21st century and beyond, and Malaysia has strong potential to blaze that trail. Tell us what you need to build Malaysia’s clean energy economy and we will stand beside you.

Yours sincerely,



Name
Organization
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