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PRESS STATEMENT

40 MW Coal-Fired Power Plant for Sabah Forest Industries

The Sandakan Anti Coal-fired Power Plant Action Committee (SACPPAC) fully supports the statement by State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister YB Datuk Masidi Manjun on his disappointment with the Federal Department of Environment (DOE) in its decision to approve a 40 megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant in Sipitang without consulting the State Government in advance (Daily Express – 1st April 2009)
YB Datuk Masidi Manjun in commenting on reports that a proposal by Sabah Forest Industries (SFI) to open the 40 MW coal-fired power plant at its factory in Sipitang where DOE made a decision on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and conveyed its decision to the State Government.

As the State Minister in charge of Tourism, Culture and Environment, YB Datuk Masidi has every right to be upset with the pronouncement by the DOE without taking into consideration the welfare and interests of the people of Sabah.  The Minister and the State Cabinet is fully aware of the impact that can be caused by a coal-fired power plant – even one that produces only 40 MW of power supply – and as such the Sandakan Anti-coal Committee is grateful to the Sate Government for its concern in the wellbeing of Sabahans.

It is a well-known fact that the by-products of coal burning are hazardous and very harmful to humans, animals and plant life and continued exposure to these toxic materials can cause birth defects and gene mutation to our next generation. It has been proven that fly-ash and noxious gasses from coal-fired plants can cause higher asthmatic cases in infants and children; increase respiratory aliments; coronary heart disease; lung and nose cancer.

It is learnt that there is a proposal by Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) and Sabah Electricity Sdn. Bhd. (SESB) to build a 300 MW coal-fired power plant at POIC, Seguntor, Sandakan.  The power plant in Sandakan will be 7.5 times bigger than the proposed plant at SFI, Sipitang. 
The site is situated in a “bay within a bay” with an abundant supply of seafood and marine life.  The livelihood of fishermen from numerous kampungs around the bay depends on their catch from the inlet. Any toxic wastes discharged into the bay or rise in seawater temperature, will adversely affect the source of revenue of these fisher-folk and their families.

Several housing estates and kampungs with a total population of over 40,000 residents and the world famous Sepilok Rainforest Discovery Centre and Orangutan Sanctuary is situated less than 5 kilometers from the site of the proposed coal-fired power plant.  The Sandakan Anti-coal Committee is very much concerned about the health and welfare all residents and wildlife of Sandakan.

The Chief Minister YAB Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman has rightly pointed out that Sabah’s east coast badly needs a power plant in view of shortage of power supply (Daily Express – 15th February 2009). The Chief Minister also added that the power plant is urgently needed as many industries, including the Palm Oil Industry Cluster (POIC) projects were set up in the east coast of Sabah. 

We request that a gas-fired power plant be set up for the east coast of Sabah instead of a coal-fired one.   In this respect we wish to stress that a natural gas-fired power plant will create equal job and business opportunities.  In addition a gas pipeline from Kimanis to the east coast will create even more downstream petroleum based industries and activities along the route of the pipeline.

Once again Sandakan Anti-coal Plant Committee wish to thank YB Datuk Masidi Manjun for is stand on the coal-fired power plant and hope that he would make use of his good office to turn down future requests for any coal-fired plants in Sabah.

Stephen Wong Tain Fatt, 
Tel: 019-8133168
President,
Sandakan Anti Coal-fired Power Plant Action Committee
1st April 2009.

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