More Facebook Groups AGAINST Coal Fired Power Plant in Sabah

Hi all,

We are finding more groups against the coal fired power plant in Sabah! Join them as well as us!

They are : No to Sandakan Coal Power Plant! http://bit.ly/FBGrpSdk
No to coal in Sabah - Postcards2PM http://bit.ly/FBGrpPost2PM
and
SAY NO TO POWER COAL PLANT IN SABAH http://bit.ly/FBGrpXCoal

Do take the time to join them and us if you haven't already at: It ain't green, its BLACK! http://bit.ly/NewFBFanPage

Terima Kasih!

2 Members of Green SURF Comments to PM Published in Mainstream Media!!!

An article carried by the News Straits Times with the Prime Minister discussing energy options for Malaysia mentions Green SURF supporters!

Time to keep the PRESSURE up WRITE to the PM TODAY!!

Click link here : http://bit.ly/91Fzmp

Government to explore all energy options

2010/05/21
By Anis Ibrahim
news@nstp.com.my

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KUALA LUMPUR: All options for renewable electricity generation, from biomass to wind, will be explored before a decision is made, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

In his latest posting on his 1Malaysia blog, Najib said both the rakyat and experts would be consulted, consistent with his policy of public engagement.

"Our energy future is an important discussion, and I would like that you continue to share questions and concerns with Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister (Datuk Seri) Peter Chin Fah Kui and I. With your help, I'm confident that we can build a cleaner, greener Malaysia."

Najib said the public poll on his earlier blog entry on renewable energy options showed that 59 per cent of respondents were in favour of solar energy, with nuclear in second place at 23 per cent.

Third and fourth spots went to biomass and wind respectively.

He, however, added that further consultation was necessary due to the discrepancy in the poll results and the comments left by readers.

"At the time of writing, nuclear energy accounted for more than two-thirds of submissions, with those in favour and those against in equal numbers. Solar energy was the second most popular comment category, with biomass and wind in third and fourth positions.

"All this suggests to me that feelings on which energy source is best are mixed overall and confirms that we have further to go before implementing a decision on nuclear energy.

"All options for electricity generation, from biomass to wind, will be explored. We will consult experts and we will consult the rakyat, as there must be public engagement."

A Malaysian Renewable Energy Bill, he added, was being drafted by the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water for tabling before Parliament this year.

"If we get it right, at least 52,000 jobs can be created and approximately RM70 billion worth of businesses will be generated by the renewable energy sector by 2020, according to experts."

In response, reader 'feistgeist' posted: "If this is the case PM, I really really hope that you will consider using Sabah as a platform for green technology in Malaysia. Don't build the coal plant!," he said, referring to the proposal for Tenaga Nasional Berhad to build a coal-fired plant in Sabah.

"Please understand that our natural heritage means a great deal to the Sabahan people. Do not go back on your vows at the Copenhagen Environmental Summit or the Indonesian Coral Triangle Summit. We need a leader we can trust to push this nation forward. Please be that leader for us," he added.

Another reader, 'Alex Siah' was of the view that with proper planning, progress and building of the Bakun Dam in Sarawak would be the best option available.

"Hydroelectricity is clean and recyclable with best economic sense...solar energy is a good choice too, but very capital intensive, while nuclear power is not a wise proposal due to potential pollution and non-recyclable and radioactive materials that are harmful."

'Ilann' from Sabah also asked that the coal-fired power plant plan be dropped.

"Awesome! Great news Boss! Am very sincerely happy to hear that a Malaysian Renewable Energy Bill is being drafted for this year. This IS the way forward! Please though, I implore you, please drop the coal-fired power plant that TNB is pushing on Sabah. It will jeopardise your Copenhagen commitments to cut carbon emissions by 40 per cent making that great goal almost impossible to achieve," he said.

The reader added that since Sabah had the largest oil palm planted landmass in the country, Sabahans wanted to utilise biomass and geothermal energy in Tawau.

"Please also get TNB to FIX THE GRID in Sabah -- it's still not complete. The Southern Grid has never been built. This is needed to stablise the East-West Grid. Thank you."

Read more: Government to explore all energy options http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/04aii/Article#ixzz0ogCRHBSF

PROJECT POSTCARD!

Hi all,

Please follow this link http://postcards2pm.blogspot.com/ and send postcards to the PM. Now is the time for PROJECT POSTCARD!

Terima Kasih!

EIA ready on 29 May

Postcard Project to our Prime Minister

(Click image to view full size)

This is a Postcard Project to our dear Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak.

USE THE POSTCARD TO TELL HIM THE PEOPLE OF SABAH LOVE THEIR ENVIRONMENT AND DO NOT WANT A COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT IN SABAH.

(Click image to view full size)

1. Please grab these photos onto your desktop


2. Put them on a thumbdrive

3. Take them to a photo printing shop


4. Print as many as you can


5. kau kau stick the photo on a piece of cardboard


6. Write your message to our dear PM on the back of the photo – on the cardboard


7. Don’t forget to leave space for the address and stamp


8. Address the letter to the Prime Minister (details below)


9. Put a stamp on it.


10. Post your postcard


11. Bully all your friends, class mates, colleagues, family members to do the same thing please.


12. Everyone LOVES getting postcards.

(Click image to view full size)

‘Kopivosian’ in the Kadazandusun language of Sabah means: ‘Greetings’ or ‘Salam Sejahtera’


‘Kotohuadan’ in the Kadazandusun language of Sabah means: ‘Thank you’.

- Don’t be excessively rude cause that’s not nice.


- Do use your own language to write to him. He can find a translator & learn some Sabah languages. 1Malaysia bah.

Here is the PM’s mailing address at his office in Putrajaya:

Mailing Address


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

Please feel free to phone or fax him or his office if you feel moved to do so.

(Click image to view full size)

On 31 October 2009, in Kuala Lumpur, in his keynote address at Tenaga Nasional Berhad’s (TNB’s) 60th anniversary celebration, our dear PM said:

“…The government needs to revise its energy policy, ..the current one [is] obsolete and in need of a revamp… was proven to be costly, both environmentally and financially.

“I don’t like the current energy policy. It’s not right,” he told some 1,500 TNB workers attending the event.

“…coal is what we call DIRTY technology, it’s NOT environmentally friendly,”

Do remind him of his own wise words.

(Click image to view full size)

USE THE POSTCARD TO TELL THE PRIME MINISTER THE PEOPLE OF SABAH LOVE THEIR ENVIRONMENT AND DO NOT WANT A COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT IN SABAH.

PLEASE TAKE THIS PHOTO + ALL THE INSTRUCTIONS ABOVE AND ADD THIS TO YOUR OWN FB.

THERE IS NO COPYRIGHT

THIS BELONGS TO ALL CONCERNED EARTHLINGS

DON’T BE SHY.
MAKE A STAND

NO TO COAL IN SABAH


POWER TO THE PEOPLE


FIX THE GRID

(Click image to view full size)

Join the FB group here:
‘it ain’t green, it’s BLACK!’


http://www.facebook.com/pages/it-aint-green-its-BLACK/397884026203?ref=ts

SIGN THE PETITION HERE:

http://www.petitiononline.com/nocoal1/petition.html

For more photos and additional information, please read:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=13974&id=1771066543


http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=13911&id=1771066543

(Click image to view full size)

Coal-powered plant: Sabah group to take on BN

By Michael Kaung

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Environmental Protection Association (Sepa) is bracing for an all out battle to stop the government from railroading a proposed coal-fired power plant on the east coast of the state.

Among the options Sepa is considering is an injunction to prevent the government from pushing ahead with the 300-megawatt plant costing RM1.3 billion at a site in the now pristine Sahabat in Tunku, Lahad Datu.

"We with (the residents of) Sahabat will take their (governtment’s) consultant to court if there is any misleading information or cover-up about the effects of the power plant on the eco-system of the surrounding area," Sepa president Wong Tack warned.



"We with (the residents of) Sahabat will take their (governtment’s) consultant to court if there is any misleading information or cover-up about the effects of the power plant on the eco-system of the surrounding area," Sepa president Wong Tack warned.

In a hard-hitting interview yesterday, Wong said the government and its agencies have turned a deaf ear to pleas to protect the ecologically sensitive area and persist on building the plant despite protests from Sabahans.

"They already classified the area as environmentally insensitive long before a study was made so what are they talking about getting an EIA (environment impact assessment) done.

"This (EIA) is just eyewash and rhetoric. It's nonsense. It's to soften people up before announcing the decision to build the plant anyway. Why conduct a study when you have already made up your mind? Why need an EIA?

"It is misleading, unprofessional and unethical since the government and its agencies have already decided to build the plant…it's all a political game," he said.

Wong was referring to recent statements by government politicians as well as senior officials from power utilities Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) and its state subsidiary Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) arguing for the setting up of such a plant.

On Sunday, Project Director of Lahad Datu Energy Sdn Bhd (LDESB) Ahmad Faraid Mohd Yahaya told the national news agency Bernama that the east coast of the state would benefit from the coal-powered plant as it would provide reliable electricity supply to the area which in turn would attract investors.

SESB went so far as to put out a full-page advertisement in a local newspaper to explain their supportive stand on the plant.

The detailed EIA study of the proposed site is currently in progress and the final report is expected to be submitted in a few weeks by the Department of Environment.
"Approval is expected by August. We are transparent even on the terms of reference (TOR) of the EIA which has been displayed for public viewing and feedback before we submit the report," Ahmad Faraid had said.

What transparency

But Wong says nothing has changed as far as Sepa is concerned. He also disputes the claim of transparency by the government.

"The first TOR was rejected and they have already come out with a second one which uses the same language and terminology, the same arguments about environmentally insensitive area even before the study shows how this is proved.

"They are also only looking at coal and not at alternate, clean and renewable energy sources for the state.

"They can't claim we were biased as the panel who rejected it (the first TOR) was composed of government department and agency heads.

"They told us not to politicise the issue and we agree. No politicians or their officers should be involved. Let the people and the scientific experts do the study.

“But here, the experts brought in to do the study are not independent. All the decisions are political decisions.


"The government and its agencies are in partnership. The regulatory people are in the pocket of the government.

“There is inter-dependency not independency. If they are truly open, why have they not responded to our requests to meet with the cabinet?

“Our independent experts conducted a professional study and wanted to brief them (the state government) but they did not respond to our request.”

"We spent our own funds to get this professional study done on alternate and renewable energy and submitted it to them but there has been no response.

"Nevertheless we will scrutinize the government's (EIA) report. We will get independent and professional experts to advise…weed out any misleading information or cover-ups. We will sue if there is any such nonsense," said Wong.

He added that what is puzzling is the multiple policies the government has for the area. On one hand the Sabah Development Corridor recognises the sensitivity and beauty of the area and earmarked it for tourism.

Vested interests

On the other, it is disregarding this policy in favour of industrialising it and spurring development of the Palm Oil Industrial Cluster (POIC).

"The whole area is in 'Coral Triangle'. It is internationally recognized and is supposed to be a protected marine environment. It is not suitable for any industrial activity and this is acknowledged by the state government."

The incompatibility of the two government policies poses the question as to why the government U-turned overnight after initially rejecting setting up the power plant in Silam and then in Sandakan.

Wong points to pre-determined and lucrative business links in high places. These will only pay off if the coal-powered plant is built.

"It looks like some vested interests are involved. The way they (the government) have been acting, people are speculating that perhaps deals have already been signed and maybe money has already changed hands," he says.