Save Sandakan

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: 3% [?]

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: 2% [?]

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: 4% [?]

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: 9% [?]

Unanimous STAND by residents,

REJECT Coal- Fired Power Plant !

Sandakan, 13 February 2009

The residents of Taman Sibuga and Mawar staged a peaceful demonstration at the POIC site at Seguntor, Sandakan this morning to express their concern and stand on the rejection of the proposed Coal-fired Power Plant in Sandakan.

The peaceful demonstration organised by the residents saw the support of SAPP President, YB Datuk Yong Teck Lee who joined the demonstrators when told of the event.

The strong presence of the Sandakan Anti-Coal Power Plant Action Committee members, headed by  Chairman Stephen Wong reinforced the concern of the residents and maintained their steadfast stand on the rejection of the coal-fired power plant.

The message from the residents is loud and clear ” There is no public acceptance of the Coal-fired Power Plant in Sandakan”,  Wong.said.

” The adverse effects on public health, untold ecological and environmental damages, continous polluting emissions,wastes and exposures to hazardous heavy metals are serious threats”, Wong continued, echoing concern of the residents.

The residents at the demonstration called for the State Government and relevant authorities to halt the plan to build the coal-fired power plant immediately.

Popularity: 2% [?]

More than 40,000 Residents from

Taman Mawar/Sibuga and Indah

Exposed to Potential Toxic Emissions !

RTM Sabah interviewed the Chairman of Sandakan Anti Coal Fired Power Plant Action Committee, Stephen Wong at the proposed POIC site at Seguntor, Sandakan where the proposed coal plant is expected to be sited.

Stephen Wong voiced his concern on the various adverse environmental effects associated with the proposed coal fired power plant’s site preparation, construction and stressed on the long term impacts from its operation. The potential environmental and health hazards associated with the plant’s toxic emissions and heavy metal wastes by-products add to the community’s concern and bane.

The close proximity of the proposed coal plant site looms within 3 kilometers and exposes 40,000 residents from densely populated nearby housing sites, to potential emissions and toxic wastes besides threatening thousands of villagers from surrounding 40 fishing villages. The infamous Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary nearby is also not spared.

The RTM crew and members of the Action Committee witnessed the vast destruction and degradation of some 300 acres of valuable mangroves which once form crucial barriers against coastal inundation, erosion and threat of tsunami are no longer present to serve such important roles. Important breeding grounds for marine life are being destroyed by the vast reclamation activities on such coastline which once ensured biological equilibrium. Dangers of tsunami and pollution from toxic wastes and emissions now endanger the very fabric of life of Sandakan.

The interview with JKK Chairman, En. Samsuddin of Kg. Bambangan and villager, En. Manja reinforced the Committee’s findings on the potential threats. Some of the regular water supply sources, the lifeline to the villagers for generations have been destroyed, altered or contaminated. The recent flooding which had never occurred at the village saw many of their homes inundated due to siltation as many parts of the bay are being made shallower due to siltation from the expansive hill slopes leveling and reclamation of the mangroves at the POIC site.

Manja sighed and shaked his head in despair, echoing the sentiments of many villagers.

“Our marine catch has now been reduced by 70% and our livelihood is now threatened.”

Catch the airing of the interview on RTM 1 at 3 p.m. on 27 January 2008.

Help Save Sandakan!

SACPAC Chairman, Stephen Wong urges all Ministers and MPs to reject the setting of the coal fired power plant in Sandakan for environmental and health reasons echoing YAB Datuk Musa’s earlier statement and decision on the rejection of the Silam Coal plant

Villager, En. Manja expressed his worries of the siting of the coal plant. The environment has been altered and impact being felt. The valuable water source is being destroyed!

“ We do not want the coal fired power plant near our kampung” stressed Manja.

JKK Chairman En. Samsuddin shared his concern on the impact being experienced from inundation of their homes, siltation of the bay and reducing catch from the sea.

“We do not want Coal Fired

Power Plant” !

______________________________________________________

Immeasuarble Destruction!

Eco-terrorists still at large.

Overview of 2^nd Phase vast land clearing and reclamation of mangroves at Seguntor. Note degradation and destroyed mangroves.

Once important mangroves coastline now reduced to heaps of waste wood.

Expansive degradation of landform and altered water source.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Download in PDF Format:
http://rapidshare.com/files/176282238/N1220A1p.pdf

CALL ON ALL YBs TO EXECUTE THE PEOPLE’S WISHES AND DESIRE FOR CLEAN ENERGY AND NO COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT

The anti coal committee explained that anti coal is not anti-government.

Anti coal is for the protection of our environment and people’s health and future. It is also for the preservation of our natural riches for future generation.

With so many YBs in Sandakan including the CM, DCM, Minister, Deputy Minister, Assistant Minister, Speaker and so many others all of whom were elected by the Sandakan people who gave BN a 100% return in the last election.

The people are 100% behind the Government and we hope that all our political leaders are 100% behind us in our fight against this most undesirable coal-fired power plant.

We sincerely hope that they will not disappoint us!

STEPHEN WONG CALLS ON MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO VISIT THE ANTI COAL WEBSITE: www.savesandakan.com

The Sandakan anti coal committee chairman, Mr. Stephen Wong, welcomes members of the public to visit the anti coal website www.savesandakan.com to have a better understanding of the proposed coal-fired power plant as well as the committee’s struggle to oppose such a plant in order to protect and preserve a cleaner and more healthy for future generations.

The fight for the preservation of a better environment should be the common objective and duty of all and that is why Wong is calling on more people to join in the ranks so that our voice is big enough for the authority to hear and take note. If you have not already signed up please join in the petition to have this project scrapped.

All of us who are concerned about our beloved land and environment and what a coal plant could do to destroy it should make good use of this website to communicate with each other, exchange ideas and opinion and upload information and materials for all to share and make use of in our fight against the destruction of our environment.

Wong also said that he is delighted and fully supports Datuk Suroh , chairman of the Energy Commission of Malaysia, in his intended recommendation to the Government to advance the implementation of the LIWAGU hydropower plant to resolve the problem of power shortage on the east coast of Sabah.

Despite the high cost of coal now and the availability of many alternative means to provide clean energy the authority’s insistence on the coal-fired power plant is indeed beyond anyone’s understanding.

He hopes that Government would be kind enough to listen to the wishes of the people and scrap the coal power plant all together and give us clean energy so that we can leave a clean and healthy environment for future generation.

Popularity: 2% [?]