Save Sandakan

“Massive Natural Heritage Destruction at Seguntor – Site for the Sandakan Coal – Fired Power Plant”

Anti-Coal Power Plant Press Statement

Posted by Save Sabah On November - 17 - 2008

Date : 6 November 2008

Press Statement

The Anti-Coal Power Plant action committee strongly condemns TNB and SESB for maintaining the secrecy of the site for the implementation of the intended Coal- Fired Power Plant until yesterday. The committee questions the professionalism of TNB & SESB on their integrity and their social duties in carrying out the project behind the back of the public. On one hand they informed the public that there is no intended site yet but on the other hand, many contractors have been appointed and are working on the “intended site”. We wish to remind TNB and SESB that there is no smoke without fire. Hence, there is no possible way for them to suppress the fact that the coal fire power plant is implemented by their apparent actions. We, the committee comprising of 30 NGOs and 30000 signatories of Sandakan, re-affirm our stand that no coal fire power plant is to be implemented in Sandakan and in particularly the existing POIC Site. The reasons for our opposition of this Coal Fired Power Plant are crystal clear and acknowledged by everyone in Sandakan, in particular:-

1. The “intended site” is in proximity to highly populated residential area such as Taman Mawar and Taman Sibuga, which are less than 5KM away.

It is absurd to even consider that such area can be implemented with a hazardous and life-wrecking entity i.e the coal power plant where there will be endless emission of toxic pollutant to the residents and not to mention our renown Sepilok Orang-Utan Centre is just located nearby.

2. The existing POIC Site in Seguntor Bay is within Sandakan Bay and no one has the right to place a coal fire power plant on the Bay, allowing the discharge of millions of litres of chlorine-laced cooling water and toxic waste into the sea. Such a thoughtless action will only result in the accumulation of toxic in the bay and turn our Sandakan Bay into a death sea zone in the long run.

3. Again, we are deeply regretful towards the unprofessional and unethical actions shown by TNB and SESB. We have received reliable sources that 500 acres of land at the POIC site are blocked and contractors have already been appointed to commence with the preparation works. Yet, SESB want to keep the secrecy on the site. It is puzzling to us as to the reason for the secrecy. The unprofessionalism and untrustworthy actions of TNB and SESB have deprived of our trusts on the EIA to be carried out in a professional manner. We, the Sandakan people want the Government to form an independent Institution to carry out the EIA. We wish to contend and assure that we will oppose to the building and implementation of the COAL power plants.

4. In yesterday’s newspaper, the Managing Director of SESB, Baharin Din had finally stated that the “intended site” was within Seguntor Bay at the Palm Oil Industrial Cluster area, obviously after knowing that the “intended site” was exposed to the public hence the statement. We strongly take the view that Baharin Din is totally unfit to be the team leader of SESB as a respectful public utility and entity. He has shown no social responsibility to the people of Sandakan in handling this project. Not only that he had failed to execute his duty as a responsible team leader of SESB but he had mislead the people of Sandakan for uncountable times in not revealing to the people the “intended site” of the coal plant until now, after being exposed of his shameful actions. His admission now that preparation works has been carried out on the “intended site” amounts to his unethical and unprofessional conduct and is merely to divert the attention of the people of Sandakan. He again mislead the public that 40% of the world electricity was generated from coal fire power plants, but the fact is the world had denounce the usage of coal fire power plant due to the hazardous impact that are the main course of global warming, even China had announced last October that it was shutting down 253 coal power plants as part of efforts to curb carbon emissions there. The hazards of coal are well-known to everyone in this world now, particularly to countries which are facing high carbon dioxide emission and steps are taken to curb such problems. When other existing coal production country try to reduce the usage and change to other renewable energy plant and yet Sandakan proclaim as a Nature City want to put one coal plant to add on the hazardous impact, it is totally no logic and unacceptable and not fair to our Sandakan people.

5. More importantly, we are deeply saddened and extremely disappointed by our political leaders who condone the actions taken by TNB and SESB. Many leaders have voiced out that coal is the least option for the power plant in Sandakan but it seems that this is not the case in Sandakan. We strongly hope our political leaders, given full mandate by our Sandakan people, will not let us down, and will not put us and our future generation at risk. Again, we stress to our political leaders that in no possible way will we accept the coal fire power plant in Sandakan as the option to aid our electricity shortage. As much as we would want to solve the problems of electricity shortage in Sandakan, we will not resort to coal fire power plant as we are aware that there are so many alternatives which are less hazardous to be implemented and our pledge can only be fulfilled if our leaders unite together to do it for us.

Stephen Wong Tien Fatt
Chairman
ON and behalf of ANTI Coal Plant Action Committee

Popularity: 1% [?]