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WWF opposes coal plant wherever sited in Sabah

Posted by Save Sandakan On June - 27 - 2009

World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Malaysia will object to the setting up of a coal-fired power plant no matter where the location is in Sabah.

"As far as coal is concerned, our (WWF-Malaysia) stand is clearÉthere should be no coal-fired power plant in Sabah,"

He said aside from the eventual impact on the environment, the cost of the coal-fired power plant operation would also be enormous

"From Silam in Lahad Datu to Sandakan and now we heard it is going to be built in the Felda area (in the East Coast)," he said, adding the Felda area could be proposed since the people there are under a government scheme "so there would have no locus standi to object to it".

In this respect, he said WWF-Malaysia, as a global NGO, would record its objection if the proposal goes ahead in the Felda area.

Kota Kinabalu: World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Malaysia will object to the setting up of a coal-fired power plant no matter where the location is in Sabah.

The organisation’s first public statement on the issue was made by WWF Malaysia Borneo Programme Director, Dr Rahimatsah Amat, at a luncheon with the media in Centre Point Sabah, Tuesday.

"As far as coal is concerned, our (WWF-Malaysia) stand is clearÉthere should be no coal-fired power plant in Sabah," he said.

According to him, WWF-Malaysia believed among the best options was to build the second power grid line to connect the West and East coasts as a back up in the event one of the grid fails.

Another was getting power supply from the Bakun Dam as argued by other NGOs on the issue.

"Other NGOs have been doing a good job in giving their opinion on the issue like if they can build submarine cables to connect power to Semenanjung then why can’t they channel electricity to Sabah?," he said.

He said aside from the eventual impact on the environment, the cost of the coal-fired power plant operation would also be enormous.

Dr Rahimatsah also questioned the reason for the location of the proposed coal-fired power plant to be shifted from one place to another.

In this respect, he said WWF-Malaysia, as a global NGO, would record its objection if the proposal goes ahead in the Felda area.

On the suggestion for a nuclear power plant, he said it would be viable provided it is used and maintained in a proper manner.

However, he said such facility would require international technical expertise as none of it could be sourced locally.

On another issue, Dr Rahimatsah said WWF-Malaysia wanted to work with the Government in the agropolitan programme under the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) so that it would really achieve its goal.

He added that so far it was unclear if the five locations for the proposed agropolitan project are really suitable.

He said an example of a wrong area being chosen for the project was in Banggi Island, where Felcra was developing rubber but have now turned out to be unsuitable.

"The rubber crops are not doing well there," he said, adding that WWF-Malaysia’s role is to work together with the Government in making the projects a success."

We are not saying we are against it but we just want clarification on how and who (among others) are involved in the agropolitan project, he said.

Meanwhile, a Voluntary Conservation Levy Workshop and launching ceremony of the Kinabatangan-Corridor of Life Tourism Association (KiTA) would be held from June 28 to 29.

The workshop would be held on June 28 while the launching to be held on June 29 is expected to be officiated by State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun at Kampung Bilit, Kinabatangan.

http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=65713

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