Why a Coal-fired Plant in Sabah Is a Bad, Bad Idea
This morning, I’d like to share a video with you.
It’s about a coal-fired plant that TNB-SESB are planning to build on the East Coast of Sabah, overlooking the Coral Triangle, which is home to 75% of marine wildlife species known to science, and half of the last remaining 30 Sumatran rhinoceros in the world Borneo.
According to Nadira Ilana of Green Surf, the Prime Minister “Mr. Najib went to Minado, Indonesia last May for the Coral Triangle summit, where he pledged to protect it but this coal plant will contradict his promise to the world as well as his pledge at the Copenhagen Environmental Summit to reduce Malaysia’s carbon emissions by 40% by 2025.”
The proposed coal-fired plant site is at Kg Sinakut, Lahad Datu, a village that borders the Coral Triangle, an area where the WWF has rated as a globally outstanding marine eco-region. It is also just a mere 17km away from the Tabin Wildlife Reserve, where hippos rhinos, elephants and other endangered species of wildlife call home.
My question to all Sabahans today is, do you want to pay for energy that sacrifices our wildlife and environment? What about a coal plant that will cause your children to have breathing problems, subsequently developing asthma and potentially, emphysema and lung cancer? TNB says that the coal will be clean, but this is their coal plant in Perak.
WHAT IS IT WORTH?
Our eco-heritage that took millions of years to forge is under threat. The world’s last few outstanding regions for marine wildlife and endangered animals are under threat. The potential 8 billion eco-tourism industry that Sabahans depend on for a livelihood is under threat. Why? So that two corporations can make a lot of money from Sabahans. Money we won’t have if we lose our source of income from tourism, but that’s besides the point.
YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT
SEND A POSTCARD TO THE PM
If you don’t want this madness to happen, please tell our leaders that Sabah does not want a coal plant by sending him a postcard.
SIGN THE ONLINE PETITION
Sign this petition too, telling the Prime Minister Najib Razak that coal is not the answer, that clean renewable energy that has longer-term profitability prospects should be explored and discussed with the ‘rakyat’ in an open and transparent manner.
If you would like to help protect Sabah’s wildlife and environment, you can find out at the Green Surf Website, where Sabahans, international NGOs, and all concerned citizens of Malaysia and the world unite for a Greener Sabah.
You can also learn more from the people who work passionately to show you why you should care about what is happening to Sabah.
Don’t wait till it’s too late. Act now, we invite the world to read and send this letter to the Prime Minister of Malaysia.
SAY NO TO COAL! Ask for clean, renewable energy!
