Sepa (unhappy over meet venue) may boycott
KOTA KINABALU, July 23, 2010: The Government must explain why next week's
panel review meeting on the detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (DEIA)
for the proposed coal-fired plant was shifted to Putrajaya in Kuala
Lumpur.
It also owes an explanation on why the meeting would be held five days
before the July 31 closing date for the public and other interested
parties to send in their comments to the Department of Environment (DOE)
as advertised by the agency.
Those who were invited by the Department of Environment for the panel
meeting were informed that it would be held at 2 pm on July 27 at the
Federal departments complex here.
Sabah environmental Protection Association (Sepa) president Wong Tack said
he was shocked to read in the papers that the meeting would now be in
Putrajaya and that it has been scheduled for July 27 and 28.
He said the letter to Sepa was for a meeting here and that a quick check
with some agencies confirmed that there was no change so far in the venue.
He said the statement by Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) senior general
manager for operation, Abd Razak Salim that the meeting is in Putrajaya
showed total disrespect for Malaysians in sabah.
"We are very disappointed. The interest of Sabahans is involved here and
the panel review meeting must be held in Kota Kinabalu.
"Sepa is very upset by this and we will look into discussing this with the
State Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment. In fact, we may
consider boycotting the whole process," he said, in a statement issued by
Green Surf (Sabah Unite to Re-power the Future).
Sepa is member of Green Surf, along with WWF – Malaysia, land Empowerment
Animals People (Leap), Malaysian Nature Society and Partners of Community
Organisations (Pacos).
Wong said Razak has also through his statement to the media painted a
false impression that the DEIA process is open by saying "many people"
will attend the meeting including non-governmental organizations.
He pointed out that Sepa is the only NGO invited to give its comments for
the panel meeting, and that other organisations and the public have to
send their comments in writing to the DOE.
"This panel review meeting is by invitation only. A public forum should
have been held to get feedback. That is the only way to say that opinions
of the public have been taken into account.
"On top of that, the meeting is scheduled for July 27 when the last dated
for the public to give their written comments is July 31. There seems to
be a closed door policy here," he said.
Wong also pointed out that parameters for the DEIA's terms of Reference
were not changed despite comments and objections by Sabah departments and
Sepa.
Source: Daily Express (23/07/2010) |
