Coal-Based Power Plant

Free Energy From Malaysian Politicians

By harnessing the hot air that politicians are so fond and used to pouring forth every day ... and directing it to wind farms or mobile miniature steam turbines, I feel Malaysians can enjoy almost free electricity.

And Maybe We Can Even Export all the excess electricity that is bound to be produced - what with all the verbal diarrhea of our 'talented' politicians.

Though production of hot air does not come under the purview or terms of reference of the elected Assemblymen and Members of Parliament - Malaysians have a right to use their hot air profitably as the politicians are being paid by taxpayers.

This might be one way that Malaysians can get their money's worth from useless politicians who do nothing but talk, talk and talk ... and when there's a project with handsome 'fringe benefits', they gild it with hullabaloo and shove it down the citizens' throat.

With such free electricity available the politicians might be hard-pressed to justify their decisions if they turn to sources of energy that serves their pockets better than the needs of the citizens.

SM Muthu

http://www.naturalnews.com/z023863.html

Coal-Based Power Plant

Datuk Raymond Tan's Idea Welcome BUT ...

I REFER to Datuk Raymond Tan's statement on setting up a special committee to study the coal-powered plant in Sandakan.

Tan's statement may bring relief to concerned and worried citizens of Sandakan. It is indeed caring of him to respond to the problems of the people. But due to his busy schedule and workload he may have overlooked the main issue - the right source of power.

It's difficult to gauge neutrality but a reasonably neutral committee to study the issue would, indeed, be good. But we must proceed sincerely and intelligently without vested interest or attempt to protect a decision that has already been made.

And to save the government money and time and any possible future finger-pointing of criminal negligence at the State Government, the committee appointed must study the various means of power generation and problems associated with them. Special consideration must be given to the issues of health and global warming.

The committee's main term of reference should be "What is the best source of power Generation for Sabah?"

The committee must understand our Federal Government's stand on global warming and also have a knowledge of Local Agenda 21 which empowers the local population, particularly youths, on decision making with regard to local development.

Let us not jump into coal blindly. Research shows that coal emits 80 percent more carbon per unit of energy than gas. And coal brings untold miseries in terms of health.

(Contrary to what is made out to be, there is a choice.)Here in Sabah, we have an abundance of gas. So, why should we be pulled by the nose by TNB who may have decided on coal for reasons best known only to Tan Sri Leo Moggie?

TNB has many good professionals but as employees they may be job-bound to go along with decisions made by businessmen and top officials.

But our State Cabinet has wise and considerate members and more than that - an electorate-given duty to protect the people of Sabah from any negative projects or development.

I hope and pray the final decision will benefit the people of Sabah and the Environment.


SM Muthu.

Coal-Based Power Plant

Neutral study on coal plant - Daily Express

Sandakan: The State Government may seek the help of independent experts to carry out environmental impact assessments (EIA) on the proposed coal-fired power plant project here.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah said this was to ensure the EIA report is not seen to be favouring any parties involved in the project.

"I think the State Government needs to get environmental experts who have no interest in the project, whose findings will be acceptable to the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the people," he told a news conference, Wednesday.

He said engineers and other parties involved in the project, especially from the Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB), were not suitable to give views on the project's environmental impact.

Although SESB might have the expertise on environmental issues, its explanation would be less acceptable to the people and the NGOs because the company had an interest in the project, he said.

He said the experts need not come from abroad so long as they had no interest in the project.

Tan also said that the Government wanted to implement the project in the east coast to tackle the power woes in the area.

However, the Government would not proceed with it if the project was harmful to the environment and the people's well-being.

"It's not as if we have to proceed with the project in Sandakan after it was cancelled in Lahad Datu, and it's not as though we don't care for the health of the Sandakan people."

The project was initially proposed in Lahad Datu but was called off in April after much considerations on its environmental implications.

The State Government later asked the SESB to identify a new site and conduct roadshows to explain the project especially to the people in the east coast.

Speaking to reporters at the Sandakan Golf Club, at Mile 7, near here, Wednesday, he said it was also important to assess the views of the Sandakan Chinese Chamber of Commerce (SCCC) and other non-governmental organisations before giving the green light to set up the plant.

Tan, who is also Deputy Chief Minister, was commenting on the protest by the SCCC which is in the process of collecting some 50,000 signatures to object against the project.

However, if the coal-powered plant could not be accepted, then the Government would have to find alternative measures to resolve the problem of the lack of energy, he said.

In this respect, the Ministry might have to review the Liwagu Hydro project, he said.

According to him, the Liwagu hydro project would have the capacity to generate more than 100MW of electricity, while Sandakan's future demand would exceed some 700MW.

He pointed out that the Liwagu Hydro could only provide short term power supply, considering that the present demand exceeds 200MW.

Meanwhile, several organisations here have joined hands to form a Sandakan Anti-Coal-fired Power Plant Action Committee in a bid to urge the Government abolish the proposed project from being carried out in the municipality.

The committee, which was established in a meeting attended by some 60 people on Tuesday, is headed by the Sandakan Chinese Chamber of Commerce (SCCC) Secretary-General, Stephen Wong Tien Fett, while his deputies are Eleanor Wong (EAC), Abg Mohd Jorgy Juana (Bumiputera Chamber of Commerce) and G. Gengadharan Pillai (Indian Chamber of Commerce).

Other committee members are Cham Yock Hua (SCCC) as Secretary, Datuk Hassan Alban Sandukong (EAC) as Assistant Secretary, Charles Chow Kok Cheng (EAC), Dusun Chong (Rotary Club) as Treasurer, Wong Vui Soon as Media Director and Ku Ah Kong as Co-ordinator.

Meanwhile, Wong in refuting a statement made by State Science Advisor, Datuk Tham Nyip Shen, said that the SCCC had never mentioned Tham's involvement in the coal-fired power plant and was also not interested in knowing whether he (Tham) has a share in it.

In his statement Tuesday, Tham had denied having a stake in the coal-fired plant.

"We are only concerned about our younger generation and the environmental impact, which would be brought by the coal-fired plant that is being abolished gradually in other advanced countries," said Wong.

Coal-Based Power Plant

So, its bad for LD but OK for S'kan

I WAS saddened to read that the coal-powered power plant is being shovelled down the throat of the people of Sandakan.

The State Cabinet made a wise decision in cancelling the coal-powered power plant which was originally supposed to be sited in Lahad Datu. The reason was that coal is bad for health and the Environment.

But moving it to Sandakan opens up many questions. If it is bad for Lahad Datu, how come it's good for Sandakan?

Sandakan has a larger and more wide-spread populace and many rich ecological sites. People may even say that the Cabinet was quick to abrogate the Lahad Datu site because it had the intention to move it to Sandakan which may then lead to questions of vested interests.

I sympathise with the Science Advisor to the government.

He should have been consulted for his "expert advice" before the project was decided on and not be made to justify a questionable decision that has already been made.

This could be unfair to him but this is not the first time that he has had to do this kind of thing - justifying the unjustifiable.

Yes, coal is BAD. There is no such thing as "clean coal".

It is merely a clever use or rather abuse of words and sales gimmicks by vested interests.

From the point of mining, transportation and usage and discharge of exhaust - coal is bad, VERY BAD.

There is so much information available on the Internet on the health hazards of coal.

There are many protest movements calling for the closing down of coal-powered plants.

Carbon-capture technology which can minimise health hazards is 15 to 20 years away and by that time the damage would have been done and sadly the brunt of it would be borne by children who now have no say in the decision making. But parents who claim to love their children can and should do something.

People are not going to drop dead when the coal-powered plant starts operation but hazards are long-term and accumulative. Severe cases and attacks of Asthma would be prevalent.

The 300 MW plant involves billion-dollar investments and investers won't just turn it off when serious health hazards are realised because then it would become a question of billion-dollar compensation. But it can be abrogated now before agreements are signed.

Let us wise-up. Get all the facts right. The state government should not rush into signing any agreements.

Don't base decisions after listening to sales talk given by the "experts" from supplier firms.

Let us learn from other people's mistakes. What was done in ignorance in the past should not be repeated due to arrogance and vested interests in the present.

TNB and SESB must be fair. Don't threaten people with "it's coal or darkness" for you. Exhaust all means of power generation. There is so much of gas available around Sabah.

The Prime Minister had announced after his last visit that a 300MW gas-powered plant would be built. What happened?

Biomass is another good alternative - the many palm-oil mills could be connected to the power grid.

There is a price to pay for development and comfort but if the "price" can be minimised or avoided why not?

Sandakanians should not be forced to 'pay the price' so that people with vested interests can enjoy their 'windfall benefits'.

I admire and support the objections raised against the coal-powered plant by the various NGOs and other bodies in Sandakan. They have the right.

After all it is their back-door and it is their children who may end-up paying the price.

The decision-makers would all be far and safely away.

SM Muthu

Masidi Speaks On Environmental Issues

Masidi Speaks On Environs Issues

By MUGUNTAN VANAR

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun has suggested the use of nuclear energy if bio-fuel or hydro energy cannot meet the current needs of the state's 2.7 million people.

Masidi even suggested the Japanese "cool dressing" method for civil servants as the state stands at a crossroads in choosing energy sources on World Environment Day.

Masidi: We have to look at environment-friendly technology.

In an interview, Masidi talked on issues faced by this part of Asia in view of the United Nations slogan: Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy.

He felt that coal, no matter how "clean" it may be, should be the last resort of Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) in the face of global warming and climate change.

The outspoken state minister said it was time for Malaysia relook its policy on the use of nuclear power.

Coal, oil and gas are known to be the greatest contributors to carbon emissions," Masidi said, while Sabah decides on TNB's proposal to build a 300MW coal plant in the state.

"We have to look at environment-friendly technology. We have the expertise and we are a responsible country that does not abuse its sovereign rights," said Masidi, who believes that viable alternatives can be found.

He said the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) named Malaysia as the 26th largest emitter of greenhouse gases and the 38th best in sustainable environment management of the world's 146 countries.

"Malaysia makes up 0.4% of the world's population but its 27 million people account for 0.6% of global emissions," he said, adding that though the country practised sustainable environment management, it should not rest on its laurels.

Admitting that the state was guilty of emitting smoke from trees and soil during forest clearing, Masidi said, since 1989, the state had committed 16% of its forests to be totally protected.

Agencies like Yayasan Sabah started projects to rehabilitate 25,000ha of logged forests to offset carbon emissions in collaboration with The Netherlands-based Forest Absorbing Carbon Dioxide Emissions (FACE) Foundation.

"The challenge is that Sabah is providing a global service by keeping its carbon stored, and there are mechanisms whereby the state can be compensated for this," he said, adding that the state worked on carbon credit sales in this global service.

As Sabah marks World Environment Day, Masidi is keen to get his cabinet colleagues and government ministers to try the "cool biz attire code" that encourages the ridding of ties and use of short-sleeve shirts to reduce air-conditioning.

Among awareness programmes of his ministry are the promotion of tree planting (one tree can absorb one tonne of carbon) and giving grants of RM1,000 and RM3,000 to schools and NGOs to carry out environmental programmes on World Environment Day.

"The Environmental Action Committee is collaborating with local authorities to promote composting of kitchen and garden waste and recycling," said Masidi, who believes that concerted efforts by the public and private sectors can achieve sustainable environmental management.

"It is a common responsibility of all citizens in this planet. So, it is for all of us to play our parts," he added.

FUEL Price INCREASE

FUEL PRICE INCREASE

Finally the TRUTH is rubbing ON US! We have to pay near-market prices for fuel. As an Environment-conscious being I am not worried about the increases in the fuel prices - BUT I am very concerned about their spiralling effect on food prices, transport and basic shelter.

Unless the government has very good strategic plans to help the poor and needy, the most affected by this steep increase will be the ones who can least afford it.

Prices of food, public transport and low-cost housing must be kept down and affordable.

It is now time, and critically so, for the government to introduce minimum wages. With the expected increase in cost of living it should not be less than RM1,200 per month (RM800 basic + RM400 cost of living allowances) for all sectors particularly the private-sector.

Don't let the people die of starvation or suffer from malnutrition.

Sabah workers, other than in the government sector, receive lower wages but have to suffer a higher cost of living. What is going to happen to them? How do they survive?

And what about the ethnic subsistence farmers slogging in the valleys and up on steep hills? Will they be priced-out of their lives? Will they be able to afford basic necessities?

Sabah leaders should seriously look into good public transport systems all over the state. The City transport system should be greatly improved and subsidised to encourage its use.

Too much of the Nation's wealth has been wasted without the majority of the raayat gaining benefits due to politics and patronage.

The Nation's finances must be more prudently managed and fairly shared among all its citizens.

One way is to get rid of wasteful mega projects.

Another way is to do away with negotiated tenders and go for 'a clean open-tender system.'

Billions of Ringgit may be saved from these which can be channelled towards welfare for the poor and helping farmers and fishermen upgrade and increase our food production.

My personal call to Malaysians is: CHANGE Your HABITS and ADJUST Your LIFE-STYLE BUT at the same time DEMAND transparency and accountability.

In this, I hope our leaders will show the way - failing which, the people could show them the way by VOTING MORE WISELY the next time around.

World Environment Day ... Its Every Day!

World Environment Day ... It's Every Day!

Just as we celebrate our birthdays once a year we HIGHLIGHT the importance of the Environment through WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY (Its today - June 5th).

We do not just come alive only on our birthdays.
LIFE is for living and we should Live Every Day!

On the same note let us ALWAYS REMEMBER that the ENVIRONMENT must be NURTURED and 'breast-fed' if necessary - for too often many if not most of us forget the FACT that WE CANNOT be here without the Environment.

So make every day of your life - World Environment Day.

There was a time when we did things out of ignorance BUT now it is sheer indifference, arrogance or utter GREED.

Excessive consumption is overheating Earth and driving it towards its self-destruction. Global Warming is a dark cloud above us that is getting darker and thicker by the day. So, WHAT CAN WE DO?

We need to be moderate in our life-styles.
There's enough in this world for every one's NEED,
But not enough even for one man's GREED! (M. Gandhi)

WE need to check our population growth too.
Our Mother EARTH has a great GOD-given capacity to rehabilitate and rejuvenate itself but it is a limited capacity, in that, we have to respect the laws of Nature - there's a limit to the carrying capacity of any earthly element.

Mega-corporations and conglomerates - the market forces - call policy shots around the world - and to them? ... Every baby born is a consumer, a contributor towards their accumulation of enormous but unnecessary wealth.

It is time for right-thinking men to THINK RIGHT and more importantly to ACT RIGHT!

Wishing Everyone

A Happy World Environment Day,

And Remember, That's, Every Day!

In our endeavour to achieve progress let us not forget:

"Without Man The Environment Will Flourish,

But Without A Liveable Environment WE Will All Perish"