Melanie engages in verbal spat over coal plant

Kota Kinabalu, Nov 18, 2009: Luyang Assemblywoman Melanie Chia said Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) is not against the move to provide more stable and sufficient supply of electricity to the people.

"We also want the rakyat to get continuous and sufficient electricity (but) through other alternatives like hydro and gas," she said in her Budget debate speech.

Unlike other assemblymen who received minimal interruptions from the other members of the House when debating the Budget, it was not plain sailing for the SAPP Wanita chief.

The moment she delved into the coal-fired power plant issue, one after another Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblyman, almost all from the East Coast, stood up to interrupt asking for "clarifications".

It began when Chia said the construction of the coal-fired power plant would be detrimental to the marine life and its potential for the aquaculture industry development in Darvel Bay covering Lahad Datu, Kunak and Semporna.

At this point, Bugaya Assemblyman, Datuk Ramlee Marhaban asked the method used by Chia to determine the aquaculture industry would be affected if the coal-fired power plant is built at the (Dent Peninsular) Lahad Datu.

"Show the proof ... it is not the style of the (State BN) government to do things hastily but everything is done after proper and thorough studies," he said.

Chia replied that the industry would be affected by the chemical content being discharged from the plant into the sea.

Just as she was about to move on, Assistant Finance Minister Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan who is also Apas Assemblyman asked if she has no confidence in the role of the Department of Environment.

He said based on Chia's statement, it was clear that she had already decided to go against the project even though the project has yet to get its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report done.

Right after she stated that SAPP did not wish to object to the move to give better and sufficient power supply to the people albeit through an alternative source, Ramlee stood up again.

Before Chia could respond to him, another assemblyman, Suhaili Said from Tungku stood up showing a Daily Express clipping on the statement by the SAPP CLC Tungku chief.

Rather than asking for clarifications, Suhaili went on to speak about the clean coal technology and that if the plant is built in Kampung Sinakut, Felda Sahabat, it would be the seventh such facility in the country.

Speaker Datuk Juhar Mahiruddin, however, called on Suhaili not to make a statement as he was supposed to ask for clarification.

Chia then continued saying that based on a Petronas report, Sabah has an abundance of natural gas resources and she asked the reasons for the gas in Kimanis not being used in Sabah but channeled to Bintulu which is 500km away and costing RM1.6 billion apart from the RM1.4 billion needed for the infrastructure and complex in Kimanis.

Chia also read the reply by the Energy Minister to the Tawau MP at the Dewan Rakyat about channeling electricity through the East-West Grid.

At this juncture, Tawfiq said it was very risky to have the power plant in West Coast to supply all the electricity to the East Coast via the East-West Power Grid especially in the event of natural disasters.

"Is it not better to build another power plant in the East Coast so as to balance the power supply?," he said. "This is getting too technical but this is the answer from the Minister," she said. Shortly, Ramlee again stood up saying "those who are feeling the suffering are us in the East Coast so it should be the people from the East Coast who should object (if they want to)".

Chia responded that she was making the statement as a Sabahan and that the people in East Coast might be unaware about it.

"Is the BN government not caring for the people? Don't underestimate our level of awareness," said Ramlee angrily resulting in the Speaker asking him to cool down.

"I believe the Luyang Assemblywoman does not feel what we are feeling É so don't blame the Government if the people remain in the dark but blame the opposition," retorted Gum Gum Assemblyman Datuk Zakaria Edris.

Tenom Assemblyman, Datuk Rubin Balang asked: "Does Luyang have other alternatives because to channel gas from Kimanis it will be too expensive?"

Chia who had her emergency motion for the current sitting to be adjourned to allow the call for the scrapping of the proposed coal-fired power plant project to be specifically discussed by the House denied on Monday, calmly declined to give way to any more interruption.

She moved on to the issue of the publication of the bond worth RM544 million by the State Government, expressing her concern that the State Government must pay the amount in full in five years when the bond reaches maturity.

"The State Budget must aim for a balanced economy, stable and sustainable," she said.

Quoted from DE

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MOHON MERUJUK PERATURAN TETAP 23 (1)
TAJUK: MEMBATALKAN RANCANGAN MEMBINA LOJI JANAKUASA ARANG BATU DI SABAH.

Saya, Melanie Chia Chui Ket, Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri Sabah Kawasan N16 Luyang, ingin mohon merujuk Peraturan Tetap 23 (1) untuk membincangkan perkara bersabit dengan “MEMBATALKAN RANCANGAN MEMBINA LOJI JANAKUASA ARANG BATU DI SABAH”
Isu ini penting kerana pembinaan loji janakuasa arang batu di Kg. Sinakut, FELDA Sahabat, dekat Lahad Datu, seperti yang diumumkan Perdana Menteri YAB Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak pada September 2009 bakal membawa impak negatif kepada alam sekitar dan biodiversiti serta ekosistem di negeri ini selain membahayakan kesihatan rakyat terutamanya mereka yang tinggal di kawasan berdekatan.

Perdana Menteri pada Oktober 2009 telah mengumumkan bahawa Kerajaan Malaysia memberi keutamaan terhadap pembangunan Tenaga Hijau.

Sebagai salah satu inisiatif perkara itu, Perdana Menteri sendiri mengetuai Majlis Teknologi Hijau Negara yang akan melaksanakan Dasar Teknologi Hijau Negara.

Perdana Menteri sebagai pelopor Teknologi Hijau diperingkat antarabangsa dan kebangsaan didapati tidak selari apabila merancang membina loji janakuasa arangbatu di Lahad Datu.

Negara-negara maju telah menggantikan loji janakuasa arang batu tetapi kenapa kita di Sabah Malaysia harus mengikut jejak yang telah ditinggalkan! Teknologi bakal digunakan itu adalah tidak konsisten dengan dasar kerajaan yang mempromosi teknologi hijau serta mesra alam.

Mengapa setelah ditolak untuk dibina di Silam, Lahad Datu oleh Ketua Menteri Dato’ Seri Musa Aman pada April 2008 dan seterusnya ditolak apabila ingin dibina di Seguntor, Sandakan, tetapi diluluskan apabila dipindahkan semula di Lahad Datu di kawasan Kg. Sinakut, FELDA Sahabat.

Rakyat di Silam, Lahad Datu dan Seguntor, Sandakan telah menolak loji janakuasa arang batu itu dan kini majoriti rakyat Sabah juga turut serta menolak loji itu.

Slogan 1Malaysia: Rakyat Didahulukan, Pencapaian Diutamakan seolah-olah telah berubah kepada Rakyat Dikemudiankan, Projek Diutamakan.

Adalah menjadi harapan agar suara rakyat melalui Dewan yang mulia ini dapat dibawa keperhatian Kerajaan Persekutuan supaya
keputusan tegas untuk membatalkan projek itu dapat dibuat dengan segera.

Justeru itu, perkara ini adalah kepentingan awam, spesifik dan perlu disegerakan untuk dibincangkan dalam persidangan Dewan yang mulia ini.
Saya mohon pertimbangan Yang Berhormat Speaker.

Sekian dan terima kasih.

SAPP is against dirty coal ...more Coal's Assault on Human Health Coal pollutants affect all major body organ systems and contribute to four of the five leading causes of mortality in the U.S.: heart disease, cancer, stroke, and chronic lower respiratory diseases. This conclusion emerges from our reassessment of the widely recognized health threats from coal. Each step of the coal lifecycle-mining, transportation, washing, combustion, and disposing of post combustion wastes-impacts human health. Coal combustion in particular contributes to diseases affecting large portions of the U.S. population, including asthma, lung cancer, heart disease, and stroke, compounding the major public health challenges of our time. It interferes with lung development, increases the risk of heart attacks, and compromises intellectual capacity. Oxidative stress and inflammation are indicated as possible mechanisms in the exacerbation and development of many of the diseases under review. In addition, the report addresses another, less widely recognized health threat from coal: the contribution of coal combustion to global warming, and the current and predicted health effects of global warming...more Nov 29, 2010 - Malaysia: A Coal Plant in paradise Nov 27, 2010 - Coal plant a revenue killer, say NGOs Oct 05, 2010 - SAPP akan batalkan loji janakuasa arangbatu Aug 26, 2010 - Are nepotism and corruption behind the Sabah coal plant? Aug 21, 2010 - Build more gas power plants as soon as possible Aug 19, 2010 - Coal plant DEIA rejected Aug 18, 2010 - SAPP vows to scrap controversial dams and coal plant proposals Jul 29, 2010 - EIA report on controversial coal plant flawed Jul 27, 2010 - Sabah coal-fired plant 'far from eco-friendly' Jul 23, 2010 - British environmentalist leads fight against Sabah coal plant Jul 17, 2010 - Hundreds gather at site for proposed coal-plant Jul 17, 2010 - MP calls govt's bluff over coal power Jul 16, 2010 - Chua urges protection of biodiversity in Sabah Jul 06, 2010 - Green Surf wants coal plant scrapped Jun 15, 2010 - Parliament to debate Sabah's coal power May 18, 2010 - Sabah says No to coal! Apr 21, 2010 - Sabah, a dumping ground for dirty coal Dec 15, 2009 - Chua: Q&A on power plants at parliament Dec 15, 2009 - Commitment an irony, claims SAPP Dec 01, 2009 - Chua: Terms of reference on EIA Nov 29, 2009 - Groups express concern over report on coal-fired plant Nov, 27, 2009 - How important is Bakun power to Peninsular Malaysia? Nov 25, 2009 - BN flip flops again! Nov 18, 2009 - Melanie engages in verbal spat over coal plant Nov 17, 2009 - Sabah's Objection to the building of Coal Power Plant Nov 16, 2009 - Sabah assembly: Coal-fired plant against green policy Nov 15, 2009 - SAPP: Coal plant idea not supported by public Nov 13, 2009 - China eyes closing coal-fired power plants in capital Nov 13, 2009 - Dirty Coal Power Nov 9, 2009 - SAPP: Coal power plant at Tungku tainted with power abuse Nov 9, 2009 - China eyes closing coal-fired power plants in capital Oct 27, 2009 - Power from West-East Coast Grid only by end 2013 Oct 21, 2009 - Ulterior motive on the coal fired power plant Oct 19, 2009 - Power entity should be under state gov't Sep 13, 2009 - Chua: Extend National Energy Commission to Sabah Aug 19, 2009 - People's cries falling on deaf ears Aug 16, 2009 - Stop holding the people to ransom over power supply problem Aug 12, 2009 - Enough! Stop Power Disruptions in Tawau Jul 30, 2009 - National Green Technology Policy the way forward for renewable energy Jun 24, 2009 - Birth defects in China's Shanxi show human price of coal Jun 23, 2009 - SAPP to Raymond: Don't insult Sandakan folks Jun 17, 2009 - WWF opposes coal plant wherever sited in Sabah May 30, 2009 - SAPP Yes to gas-powered but No to coal-fired plant May 26, 2009 - Sabah discriminated by BN government May 18, 2009 - Sapp says no to coal-fired plant again Apr 30, 2009 - Supply Sarawak power to Sabah and not Indonesia or Brunei Feb 19, 2009 - SAPP welcomes assurance, calls for gas-powered plant for Sandakan Feb 18, 2009 - SAPP to continue its campaign against coal plant Feb 17, 2009 - Tennessee Coal spill and destruction Feb 16, 2009 - SAPP's objection of coal-fired plants in Sabah Feb 15, 2009 - Yong shows up at anti-coal protest Dec 24, 2008 - Alternative Power Plants Dec 24, 2008 - Economic reasons over Health and Environmental concerns Nov 13, 2008 - Scrap coal-fired plant in Sekong Oct 07, 2008 - Don't force the coal plant on Sandakan Nov 06, 2000 - Tenaga eyeing renewable energy - Blowing Hot Air or Talking Bull? State's sovereign rights on oil .... Jul 01, 2010: Questions on Blocks L & M not fully answered Jun 25, 2010: Murky oil blocks deal could cost Sabah billions of ringgit Jun 11, 2010: Is Maritime District 14 a Malaysian maritime territory? Jun 07, 2010: Edward: People deserve to know what happened May 12, 2010: Dullie to Mojigoh: Who are you helping? May 12, 2010: Be honest about oil blocks, Kitingan tells govt May 10, 2010: SAPP: The fact speaks for itself May 05, 2010: SAPP news in FreeMalaysiaToday May 05, 2010: Malaysians only found out via NYSE: Yong May 04, 2010: Sabah rights and interests have been sacrificed May 04, 2010: Oil blocks deal: Huge financial loss to Sabah May 03, 2010: SAPP: Ceding of blocks L and M to Brunei unconstitutional May 02, 2010: Najib: M'sia, Brunei border talks will lead to a win-win solution Apr 30, 2010: Statement by Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on two oil exploration fields Apr 30, 2010: Abdullah says cabinet approved boundary pact with Brunei Apr 30, 2010: Pak Lah gave 'RM320b oil rich areas' to Brunei Apr 29, 2010: Malaysia's generosity by Dr Mahathir Nov 23, 2008: Oil royalty: SAPP not giving up Nov 20, 2008: Oil Royalty Warrants Review Stop the Coal-fired Power Plant in Sandakan.... Destruction of famous tourist attraction sites Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre Kinabatangan Ramsar Site, Sukau Resorts Island Resorts off Sandakan, Selingan Turtle Island...