Save Sandakan

Kota Kinabalu: Five non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are combining forces in Sabah in an unprecedented move to oppose dirty energy such as coal-fired power plants.

The Sabah Unite to Re-Power the Future or Green Surf coalition consists of the Land Empowerment Animals and People (Leap), Partners of Community Organisations (Pacos Trust), Sabah Environmental Protection Association (Sepa), the Malaysian Nature Society Sabah branch and Sabah office of WWF-Malaysia.

These bodies, which all have differing ideas and objectives, believe this union would push for the achievement of one universal goal – to find and present positive solutions to the current energy situation in the State.

At a joint press conference to announce the alliance at Tanjung Aru beach here, Saturday, founder and director of Leap, Cynthia Ong, said the unification was a result of the public approaching the respective organisations and wanting something concrete done on environmental issues, the proposed coal-fired power plant in Lahad Datu being the flavour of the week.

“With Sabah putting itself forward as a leader in conservation in the region, we really feel that such an event (setting up of coal-fired power plant) would undermine all the efforts of our organisations.

“This is why we have to step up. And also the public has approached our respective organisations, so we’re answering that call.

“This is not anti-government but we are supporting the Government in looking for new solutions and using the might of our organisations to support (the solutions),” she said.

“We are not just saying ‘no coal or anti-coal’ but will find alternative energy solutions for the State and present them to our leadership and public.

“But the main thing is of course is to change the course of direction towards the future of energy, which we feel should be renewable É we’re actually pro-active about (finding) solutions,” she said, pointing out there are many unexplored solutions.

Sepa President Wong Tack said the coalition was a good start towards better conservation efforts, adding they need the public to back them if they were really to hit the ground running.

“I’m sure this platform will expand and closer working relationships would be established.

“This is a very positive start for a greener Sabah and we hope citizens of Sabah will come together. The Prime Minister always emphasises about wanting to listen to the people, so the people must exercise the right so the authorities can hear us.“

Chief Technical Officer of WWF-Malaysia’s Sabah Office, Rahimatsah Amat, urged the public to rally behind the coalition on the energy issue and other urgent environmental issues.

“We do not have a very specific agenda but the agenda is specific towards green things, which on our plate at the very moment is the coal-fired power plant.

“But there could be many more pressing issues that need to be addressed so we need the support of the public to show that we’re moving in the right direction for all of us to have a future in Sabah,” he said, adding they will release information on their developments from time to time.

On the coal-fired power plant, he said the effects would not be felt immediately but years down the line, accentuating the urgency to find an alternative solution to the energy source.

Meanwhile, Green Surf is calling on everyone in Sabah to sign a petition to show their concern for climate change with specific emphasis on the planned coal-fired power plant.

A webpage has been set up on social networking site Facebook, which has garnered 1, 000 members within two weeks.

The public could also visit www.nocoalsabah.blogspot.com, which has a link to the Facebook page to find out more about the issue as well as to sign the online petition.

In a statement, Green Surf also urged the Federal Government to consider developing one of the two budgeted green pioneer townships with green technology in Sabah.

“We applaud the Prime Minister for having the foresight of planning these green pioneer townships and we request for East Malaysia to have one and we recommend the government consider one of our East Coast townships such as Sandakan, Lahad Datu or Tawau.”

http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=68550

Sunday, November 01, 2009

Popularity: 11% [?]

Is TNB doing to West Malaysia what seemed to have worked in Sabah?

According to this video posted on 27 October 2009 (we apologise for the profanity…), there has been THREE blackouts this year in Muar, Johor (they are very, very lucky indeed). There was no advance notification (sounds familiar to Sabah?) for this particular blackout, so the author suddenly lost the work he was doing on his computer. His younger brother is also prevented from doing his final revision before an important exam the next day.

So, he went to complain to the TNB office, and demanded explanations. Strangely enough, perhaps trying to champion the Prime Minister’s noble “People First, Performance Now” mission, TNB’s gigantic building was apparently THE ONLY BUILDING in town which has power supply and well-lit, EVEN THOUGH it was well past office hours!! No wonder the author yelled, screamed and swear…

SESB, you are soooo damn luck that Sabahans are not as rude or obnoxious as this person. (Come to think of it, maybe that’s why Sabahans always got bullied by outsiders? Because we are too civilized, kind and forgiving??)

According to this malaysiakini.com report, “TNB CEO faces hard time over nuke plant plan“, Tenaga Nasional Bhd CEO Che Khalib Mohamed Nor (also the top guy in SESB) had tried very hard to sell the idea of using nuclear energy to the West Malaysian public. However, he failed, as “The participants, especially those from the civil society and interested members of the public were not convinced that Malaysia should go nuclear after hearing various speakers on the dangers of the nuclear option.”

After a long period of highly irresponsible and disruptive blackouts, TNB/SESB finally got the Prime Minister to announce that the strongly opposed coal power plant would still be built in Lahad Datu, using the frequent power disruptions as the pre-text:

“Najib also said that THE FREQUENT POWER SUPPLY DISRUPTION in Tawau would be SOLVED SOON WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF A COAL-POWERED PLANT in Felda Sahabat, Lahad Datu, as an alternative measure, besides buying more power generators.

“There are still many areas in Sabah including its east coast region which are EXPERIENCING POWER SUPPLY DISRUPTIONS…”

Substitute ‘COAL‘ with ‘NUCLEAR‘ – is this what is happening to Muar now??

So, I wonder whether TNB is using this tactic to force the people of West Malaysia to accept the nuclear power plant? If you can’t sell an idea, just SHOVE IT DOWN THEIR THROATS by making them suffer first and beg for the electricity, regardless of how bad they opposed it at the beginning?

Interestingly for Sabahans, in that malaysiakini.com report, it was also reported that Tenaga Nasional Bhd CEO Che Khalib “also justified nuclear energy as an option “as coal would be exhausted by 2014. And by 2025 TNB’s plan is to have a nuclear power plant.” If coal would be exhausted by 2014, then WHAT IS THE POINT OF BUILDING A COAL POWER PLANT IN SABAH WHICH ONLY BEGINS TO OPERATE IN 2013 THE EARLIEST??

Che Khalib added that “As for hydro power, he added that potentials for hydro power is only available in Sarawak.” (meaning, should NOT be considered for West Malaysia)  Really?? Then, TNB should just forget about channeling the Bakun hydro power all the way from Sarawak to Johor, but should supply it to Sabah instead!!

TNB, call off the supply of Bakun hydro power to West Malaysia NOW, CANCEL THE COAL POWER PLANT IN SABAH, and supply the Bakun hydro power to Sabah!!

Written by Anton

Popularity: 13% [?]

Sepa voices concern

Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Environmental Protection Society (Sepa) Wednesday expressed grave concern over Tenaga Nasional Berhad’s (TNB) plan to build the controversial coal-fired power plant at a “totally pristine” wilderness coastline in Dent Peninsula.

“From our recent field visit, we understand that Kampung Sinakut, just a stone’s throw (one kilometre or so) from Sahabat Resort, is the proposed site for the 300MW plant.

“Kg Sinakut is part of a totally pristine coastline 40km long, stretching between Tunku and Dent Heaven around the eastern-most tip of Dent Peninsula,” said its President Wong Tack (pic).

“This is Sabah’s last wilderness frontier,” he told reporters at a press conference.

Lapping this coastline are kilometres of snow-white sandy beaches, according to Wong……………….

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Popularity: 11% [?]

The Government has given the green light for the controversial coal-fired power plant to be set up in the Felda Sahabat scheme about 100km from Lahad Datu.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the power plant was necessary to overcome the serious electricity supply problem in Sabah

Najib also said that the frequent power supply disruption in Tawau would be solved soon with the construction of a coal-powered plant in Felda Sahabat, Lahad Datu, as an alternative measure, besides buying more power generators.

“There are still many areas in Sabah including its east coast region which are experiencing power supply disruptions. Therefore, the government will send a power generator from Sime Darby to Sabah in December, besides setting up two more power plants in the state as a long-term measure.”

“It was planned for Lahad Datu and Sandakan but they did not want it (situated there), so as the minister-in-charge of Felda, we will do it in Felda Sahabat or Sabahans will not get enough electricity supply,” he said.

The move to initially set up a 300MW coal plant in Silam near Lahad Datu was rejected by the state government following protests. It was then proposed that it be situated in Sandakan, but this was also met with protest, urging the government to use green technology or other alternative power sources

Najib also called on the state’s leaders to take care of the people and be close to them to ensure that the BN government continued to be accepted by the people and remained strong. ………….

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/9/14/nation/4710312&sec=nation

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsgeneral.php?id=440188

Popularity: 24% [?]

WHEN Jim Morrison sang “Come on baby light my fire” I heard it. The SESB didn’t. when Debbie Boone sang “you light up my life” I heard it and the SESB didn’t.

But when the SESB cash registers started to ring, everyone in SESB heard it. I wished I hadn’t.

Through time immemorial SESB has been ringing up the bills, promptly, efficiently and devastatingly. Yes, devastatingly because in Sabah we pay higher electricity rates and need to keep replacing or repairing our electrical appliance due to the everyday blackouts.

Datuk Seri Samy Vellu, if I remember correctly had openly stated that in Sabah we pay higher rates due to the terrain, capacity requirements and maintenance cost. He said this when he was Minister of Works and Utilities.

Today we hear the same tune. The singers may have changed buy not eh song. Almost every week there are complaints about the electricity cuts and shortages. Mind you, the same sentiments were expressed in the 80s when Halik Zaman was the Chairman of SESB. Some 30 years later we are still faced with this perennial problem.

Opposition parties are urging consumers to sue the SESB and who can blame them? It is not the Management of SESB who has to face the Rakyat. It is the elected representatives and aspiring politicians that have to do so on a daily basis and more often than not, these politicians become nothing more than a punching bag. For that reason, I would never want to be a politician. More so in Sandakan.

In the first place, I already look like a punching bag. Secondly, I would know from the bottom of my heart that the best I could do, is NOTHING. That’s the truth. Only the SESB and the Federal Government can resolve this problem, one way or the other.

No matter what argument are put forward, no matter what problems are encountered, no matter what politicians say and no matter what promises are made, they don’t mean a thing to me.

I am fed up of reaching out for sand paper instead of toilet paper in the dark.

C.P. Kui

Publised on 31st Aug 2009 Daily Express Forum .

Popularity: 10% [?]

Sabah’s power monopoly, Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB), has warned that there is “no quick fix to the state’s long-standing power woes” even though current needs are fairly modest at an average 730 MW.
The public utility, 80 per cent owned by Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), finally broke its silence amidst threats of demonstrations and legal suits from long-suffering consumers claiming compensation for endless load-shedding, power rationing, black-outs and power-shortages.
SESB Managing Director Baharin Din puts the immediate blame for the critical power situation on an IPP (Independent Power Producer) whose ARL Power Station experienced serious plant malfunction.

“Power supply generation is a shared responsibility in terms of installed capacity,” disclosed Baharin. “SESB is responsible for 45 per cent or 467 MW and the IPPs 55 per cent or 581 MW.”
Baharin was following up on a special closed door briefing session for MPs and state assemblypersons on Tuesday, organised by TNB and SESB chairman Leo Moggie, at the Le Meridien in Kota Kinabalu.
Also present was TNB CEO Che Khalib Mohd Noh, Deputy Chief Minister Peter Pang and Federal Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Environment Joseph Kurup.
It is not known what Moggie told the meeting but speculation is rife that he was trying to secretly push for the unpopular coal option in Sandakan, Lahad Datu or Tawau.
Elsewhere, Baharin admitted that aging machines and the failure of major projects to either take off or take off in time as among the major problems that SESB faces.

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Popularity: 13% [?]

People’s cries falling on deaf ears

Kota Kinabalu, Aug 19, 2009: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) told the government to get down to the serious work of substantiating its high-sounding slogans to salvage whatever little credibility it has remaining.
“The ‘People First, Performance Now’ slogan is sounding less believable by the day as the people are subject to barrage of empty promises,” said Datuk Richard Yong, the secretary-general of Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP).
He cited as examples of empty promises the failure of the government in building a new general hospital for Kota Kinabalu City , addressing the perennial power supply disruptions throughout Sabah and the amusing delay in the completion of the intersection in front of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu.

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Popularity: 11% [?]

1. The Sandakan Chamber of Commerce urged the Federal Government to break monopoly and promote competition to drive “enthusiasm for improvement” into the district’s electricity sector
   
2. “We appeal to the Federal Government to look into the appointment of alternative Power Supply Agency to overcome the problem of power failures and shortages,” he said. “Regretfully, we again reiterate the imcompetence of TNB and SESB.”
   
3. “For 107 days since the end of April till now, we experienced constant power failure and shortage,” he added.
   
4. “TNB and SESB have failed the people of Sandakan countless times, what good is a monopoly organization which doesn’t perform but only damage the reputation of the Government?”

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Popularity: 11% [?]

Birth defects in China’s Shanxi province show the human price of coal.

TEN-year old Yilong is already a statistic.

Born at the centre of China’s coal industry, the boy is mentally handicapped and is unable to speak. He is one of many such children in Shanxi province, where coal has brought riches to a few, jobs for many, and environmental pollution that experts say has led to a high number of babies born with birth defects.

Experts say coal mining and processing has given Shanxi a rate of birth defects six times higher than China’s national average, which is already high by global standards.

“They looked normal when they were born.

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Popularity: 3% [?]

600-strong Sandakan environ walk

Kan Yaw Chong

KOTA KINABALU: Six hundred people of diverse backgrounds joined the first ever Sandakan “Walk for the Environment ” themed “Unite Against Climate Change”, Sunday.

Sandakan Municipal Council President, Dr James Wong, flagged off and joined the 4km walk which started at the Town Padang and went through the town centre leading to the coastal Sim Sim Road, back to the town centre and ended at the Town Padang.

Leading the pack included former Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly Datuk Seri Panglima Hassan Alban Sandukong, his wheel chaired wife Datin Nuri and a slew of NGO and community leaders, including Au Kam Wah, State Assemblyman for Elopura, and Chong Hon Min, former Independent Member of Parliament for Sandakan.

“This is a historic event”‘ said Charles Chow, Chairman of the Sandakan Pro-Tem Committee which organized the event.

He noted the “obvious unity” of all races and strata of society against climate change and thanked the police, the Council President, his committee members and the public for their support.

SEPA (Sabah Environment Protection Association) President, Wong Tack, said the extraordinary spirit of the Sandakan community to protect the future of their children and to ensure Sabah always remains green is worth emulating.

Charles, meanwhile, attributed the zestful turnout to concern and awareness as a result of wide coverage in the local dailies, FM Sandakan, distribution of flyers and by word of mouth.

Charles had earlier said relevance of the walk, citing how every Malaysian as well as foreign visitor ranging from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan have complained about the sweltering heat waves of late.

“Recent records and observation has shown carbon dioxide buildup to 450 parts per million (ppmV) globally while a study on surface temperatures in major towns across Malaysia carried out by professors at UKM had registered an alarming increase by 3.5 degrees Celsius,” Charles citied.

“This reflects abnormal variations to the expected climate within the earth’s atmosphere,” he said.  “I was in Kuala Lumpur recently and my watch with a temperature meter recorded 36 degrees Celsius while normal maximum in the past was about 33 degrees,” be said.

“There is much economic advantage to stimulate investment for the mitigation of local greenhouse gas emissions,” Charles suggested.

“We should therefore seriously look into these mitigation measures,” he added, citing the need to change everyday lifestyle, behavior, the adoption of energy efficient technologies, government rewards and incentives to industries for green initiatives, reduction of greenhouse emissions to raise air quality and health, investment in future energy capital with the environment in mind and strong emphasis on green technology, energy efficient buildings and encourage agricultural practices that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and stress the protection of Sabah’s rainforests as a powerful mitigation factor,” he said.

He said it was “essential” to raise awareness on emission reduction at all levels of society.  “This is what the SEPA Sandakan effort is all about,” he pointed out, citing how the florescent bulb use 65 per cent less energy than filament bulb and a host of other potential actions that will make the difference, according to him.

Popularity: 8% [?]