Commitment an irony, claims SAPP

Kota Kinabalu, Dec 15, 2009: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) said the Prime Minister's announcement that the Malaysian Government is willing to offer its commitment to cut its carbon dioxide emission at the Copenhagen climate change summit "is laughable".
Its Deputy President Datuk Eric Majimbun said this is because Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak not long ago also announced that a coal-fired power plant would be built in Lahad Datu.

"It is funny because the country is offering to credibly cut its carbon dioxide emissions while at the same time the Government will build the country's seventh coal-fired power plant which will be in Sabah," he said.

Malaysia presently has six coal-fired power plants, four in the peninsula and two in Sarawak.

Majimbun, who is Sepanggar Member of Parliament, was referring to reports quoting Najib that the Government is willing to offer its commitment at the summit where he would be among more than 110 world leaders who would try to clinch a deal on deeper emission cuts by rich nations.

Najib reportedly said he is not just going to call on the developed world but to commit Malaysia to very credible cuts which means "we have to spend which we will do." The cuts were still being worked on, said the Premier.

UN data showed that Malaysia's carbon emissions in 2006 stood at 187 million tonnes or 7.2 tonnes from each Malaysian.

Referring to Sunday's Daily Express front page report titled "Sabah Can't Do Without Coal Plant: SESB", he questioned: "Why must it be a coal-fired power plant if not for the interest of some individuals?"

He said the Government should be aware that what Sabah has today in terms of its nature and diversity may be the only source of income for the country in future through tourism, when other available resources have dried up, and thus it is very important to safeguard it.

"People can always guarantee this and that can minimise the impact on the environment but still no one can be really sure about it É the State's green nature in particular is very sensitive and may be lost forever if we just 'bulldoze' everything."

Meanwhile, party President Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee claimed the State Government failed to handle serious issues like the rampant loss of land and rising costs of living.

He said this is the analysis of over 300 local leaders during SAPP's recently- concluded Level 5 leadership course held from Nov. 28 to Dec.

14 in various parts of the State with the theme 'Fight To Win'.

The former Chief Minister said it has become abundantly clear that there is something very wrong with the State's land management and approval process.

He said local villagers who have settled on land for two generations suddenly discover that their land has been approved to a private sector.

"It is impossible that their wakil rakyat and the land officers concerned are not aware that there are local villagers in the land applied for by the companies. This opens up the question of abuse of power, corruption and dereliction of duty by Government officials and their elected representatives," he said.

He said the imminent hike in electricity tariff and sugar prices would add to the hardship suffered by ordinary people.

Yong said the issues leading to a crisis of confidence include the illegal immigrant problems, electricity and water supply, poverty, empty promises, poor health service and many more.

He said in spite of the issues against the Barisan Nasional (BN) government, SAPP members were reminded not to underestimate the immense resources, funds, manpower, mass media and Government facilities that the BN would use to win the next general elections.

"Therefore SAPP will have to gain the edge over Umno-led BN by using new ideas, creativity and the Internet in campaigning," he said.

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...