Solidarity call for REJECTION of Sandakan Coal-Fired Power Plant.
From: Saves DK <savesdk@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Feb 16, 2009 at 10:58 AM
Subject: RE: SOLIDARITY CALL FOR REJECTION OF SANDAKAN COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT
To: JKM@sabah.gov.my
Cc: Yahya.Hussin@sabah.gov.my, pairin.kitingan@sabah.gov.my, Raymond.Tan@sabah.gov.my
Dear Yang Berhormat Datuk Seri Panglima Musa bin Hj Aman/ Sabah Cabinet/ Ministers & Assistant Ministers.
We are resident of Sandakan who are eligible to vote in the next General Election. Normally, there would be many issues which would influence a voter in an election; but in the next General Election, our vote will be decided by ONLY ONE issue: if the proposed coal power plant is built.
Coal is a very dangerous and harmful material. Exposure to coal burning can cause birth defects and gene mutation to our next generation, deadly diseases such as cancer and heart attacks to all human beings, poisoning our water, air and seafood (which Sandakan is famous for), as well as destroying our wildlifes and natural environment. We are not confident that a profit-making company which operates a giant coal power plant would spend sufficient money to keep us safe and healthy. In any event, it would be stupid for us to put our family’s destinies and ours in their hands, so any ‘Environmental Impact Assessment Report’ is actually meaningless to us. As Y.A.B. Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Aman, the Chief Minister, said,
"After weighing the pros and cons, the Cabinet decided to scrap the proposed project, because we do not want to risk the welfare and health of the communities in the area as well as any adverse impact on the environment… I know some say with today’s technology, the proposed plant is safe and clean but some experts also disagree." (New Sabah Times, 3 April 2008)
If the health of wild animals of Danum Valley and the human beings of Lahad Datu are important, we believe in Sandakan are equally important too. It is very rare for a SINGLE issue to decide a vote in any Election, but this will be it for us – because it is also rare that a SINGLE decision will affect so many people and so many generations in Sandakan.
Therefore, if the Barisan Nasional Federal or State Government allows a Coal Power Plant to be built within a 100 km radius of Sandakan, we will definitely NOT vote for the Barisan Nasional in the future General Elections, whoever is the Candidate. Because if we do, we would be committing an unforgivable crime against our future generations. We are thankful for what BN has done for Sandakan so far, so we might not vote for the opposition either (We are not sure about that yet); but because of this coal power plant, we are very sure that we will definitely NOT vote for BN anymore.
True, Sandakan needs new energy sources, but that does NOT mean that we will give up our health for electricity. Anybody would knows that coal is a cheaper and easier solution – we do NOT need to elect our wise leaders to tell us that! We elect our government to find difficult and intelligent solutions for the people’s wellbeing, NOT easy, lazy and dangerous ones.
PLEASE DO YOUR PART AS THE PEOPLE’S REPRESENTATIVE/ LEADER TO SAVE SANDAKAN AND OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
We repeat: so long as BN listens to the people and scrap the coal power plant, this will NOT be a reason for us to not vote for BN.
Yours faithfully,
Residents of Sandakan
16th Feb 2009
www.savesandakan.com
Enclosed attachments:
1) 30 reasons why Sabah does not need a Coal-Fired Power Plant. http://www.savesandakan.com/30-reasons-why-sabah-does-not-need-a-coal-fired-power-plant/
2) Location of Proposed Coal Power Plant
3) Serious Birth defects in China because of Coal Power Plant. http://www.savesandakan.com/serious-birth-defects-in-newborns-every-30-secs-in-china-because-of-coal-power-plants/
4) Sandakan residents staged 1st Demostration against Coal-Fired Power Plant. http://www.savesandakan.com/anti-coal-fired-power-plant-demonstration-staged-by-residents-of-taman-sibuga-and-mawar/
5) Sabah sticks to its guns on Coal-Fired Power Plant. http://www.miningtopnews.com:80/sabah-sticks-to-its-guns-on-coal-fired-power-plant.html
6) The Solidarity Stand of Sandakan
THE SOLIDARITY STAND OF SANDAKAN
The people of Sandakan strongly object TNB and SESB for selecting the site and the implementation of the intended Coal-Fired Power Plant. The public questions the professionalism of TNB & SESB on their intergrity and their social duties in carrying out the project without public consent. We, the people of Sandakan with the support of the Sandakan Anti-Coal Power Plant Action Committee (SACPPAC) comprising of 30 NGO’s and 30,000 signatories, re-affirm our stand that no coal-fired 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 acknowledge by everyone in Sandakan in particular:-
(A) LOCATION OF PROPOSED COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT SITE AT SENSITIVE AREA (see attachment)
- The location site is in close proximity to highly populated residential area such as Taman Mawar and Taman Sibuga, which is less than 5km away. It is absurd to even consider that such area can be implemented with a hazardous and life-wreeking 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 and 6 schools are the closest to the plant.
- The existing POIC site in Seguntor Bay is within Sandakan Bay and no one has the right to place a coal-fired power plant on the Bay, allowing the discharge of million 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.
- 40 kampungs are found tobe located within the Sandakan Bay and the livelihood of these fishermen are seriously threatened and face a bleak future.
(B) 30 REASONS WHY SABAH DOES NOT NEED COAL POWER PLANT (see attachment)
A member of the public collected a series of statements & quote made by politicians, environmentalist, individual, NGOs, on coal-fired power plant is bad. Some said we should protect the environment and save guard the public’s health. Politicians even called for implementation of environmental friendly projects.
Does the politicians meant what they say?
If they have Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) they would have called off the project.
The public have regreted given the mandate to the political leaders.
(C) WHERE ARE THE JUSTIFICATION FOR 300MW COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT?
Details from Sandakan SESB office, 6th Jan 2009
Power Plant Installed capacity Output capacity
1. SESB 55 MW 14.3 MW
2. Libaran IPP 60 MW 55 MW
3. SPC IPP 32 MW 28 MW
4. 2x Biomass IPP 20 MW 20 MW
Currently available in sandakan 167 MW 117.3 MW
1. IOI, IJM and Sinora are now constructing their own Biomass power plants (totally 35MW), expected in 2011.
They only need 13 MW so there is a surplus of 22 MW.
2. According to SESB, the present power demand in Sandakan is only about 90 MW.
Looking at above figure 117.3 + 22 = 139.3 – 90
= 49.3 MW surplus
3. The rest of the east coast area i.e. Tawau, Lahad Datu and Semporna, their present demand is about 110 MW
whereas their present supply capacity is only 50 MW.
4. Total demand vs output for east coast:
Demand Output
Sandakan 90 MW 139.3 MW
Tawau, Lahad Datu, Semporna 110 MW 50 MW
Total 200 MW 189.3 MW
Proposed 300 MW coal-fired power plant if implemented the east coast will have a surplus of 100 MW and all the existing SESB and IPPs generating plant can close shop!
(D) CONCLUSION
- The public concern, fear, anxiety, views should be heard and public’s health safety must come above all other interest, visit www.savesandakan.com for full details.
2. Sabah has many natural resources that can be use to generate power:
(i) gas
(ii) biomass
(iii) hydro
(iv) wind
Why does SESB not propose to TNB to use any of the above ?
Instead import coal from Indonesia (out flow of foreign currency) for this 300 MW coal-fired power plant and the huge cost for transportation and all these costs will be passed to the consumers!
3. We deeply saddened and extremely disappointed by our political leaders who condone the actions taken by TNB and SESB.
Again, we stress that in no possible way will we accept the coal-fired power plant in Sandakan as the option to aid our electricity shortage.
From the people of Sandakan.
7th Feb 2009
Popularity: 4% [?]
No related posts.
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
.gif)
Leave a Reply