KUALA LUMPUR: An emergency motion by Datuk Eric Majimbun (SAPP - Sepanggar) to cancel a proposal by Petronas to continue with its RM3bil project to build 500km gas pipes from Kimanis to Bintulu was rejected Monday.

Deputy Speaker Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the matter was specific and of public interest.

However, there was no urgency, he said.

Eric, in his emergency motion, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced in May this year that the project was cancelled.

However, he said the Prime Minister was challenged by Petronas on June 11, stating that the project would continue and was expected to be ready by March 2011.

“There should be an immediate decision on the matter for the sake of the rakyat in Sabah as the project is only meant for the interest of certain leaders and not for the people in Sabah, many of whom are still hardcore poor,” he said.

Eric, at the Parliament lobby, said the project did not benefit people in Kimanis as it was only a transit point.

Another Sabah Progressive Party MP Datuk Chua Soon Bui said she supported Eric’s motion for several reasons.

“Sabah is still the second poorest state in Malaysia and must make full use of this opportunity to spearhead a new economic activity of the petrochemical industry and related value-added products in Sabah.

“The RM3bil can be well used for building more low cost houses for the very poor families and for the improvement of basic infrastructure in Sabah,” she said.

Chua said the excess gas should be used to build a gas power station in Kimanis or some other suitable site to replace the proposed 300mw coal power station.

“We should maximise our own resouces in Sabah rather than having to buy coal from other countries and risk polluting the environment,” she said.  By LEE YUK PENG and LOH FOON FONG

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