On 5th June every year, we celebrate the World Environmental Day. This year, the celebration looks at the importance of appreciating the co-existence of colorful diverse life on planet Earth through its slogan, “Many Species. One Planet. One Future”. But rather than merely celebrating the diverse species of planet Earth, it is also crucial for us to observe the danger of extinction and destruction faced by some of these species due to mankind’s threatening approach to development that is severely affecting our biodiversity. This year alone, we witness the irreversible loss of 38,502 species and 3,124,860 Ha of our dear forests due to activities that include massive logging and open burning. Such staggering biodiversity loss must be addressed immediately or else, more shall be gone before our children can even inherit our beautiful planet.
It is timely that I am also here in Sabah, the land of the oldest rainforest and pristine natural frontier in the world, to celebrate the World Environmental Day with Pakatan Rakyat supporters. I would like to take this great opportunity to address the current concern of people in Sabah that is the government’s plan to build a 300MW coal powered energy plant in Lahad Datu. It is remarkably outrageous to learn that the plan is continued despite strong objections from the State Assembly and the local community in the past years as the plan will bring potential harm to the community and environment. The latest location announced for building the coal plant is at FELDA SAHABAT, Lahad Datu. The justification purported by Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) and its subsidiary, Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) in support of the plan are that alternative energy resources were too expensive to be implemented and will not be able to provide enough energy as required. Such opinion was made despite dissenting views from the Sabah State Assembly and influential leaders such as MP Datuk Abdul Ghapur Salleh and former Chief Minister, Datuk Harris Salleh that it is possible to introduce and implement green technology in Sabah. Additionally, NGOs and stakeholders have also voiced their concern on how the building and operation of the plant will not only destroy famous tourism attraction sites but also the endangered animal sanctuaries, Ramsar-certified wetlands and forest reserves nearby. As a result, we will sad to say, witness marine and forest ecology destruction, biodiversity imbalance, depleting seafood source and in the long run, global warming and climate change.
In conjunction with the World Environmental Day and International Biodiversity Year, I made the following appeals to the government in relation to the plan to build the coal powered plan;
- I urge the government, in the best interest of our environment, the people in Sabah and the rest of the world, to immediately stop any plans of continuing with the building of the coal powered plant;
- I call to the government to give due weight to public opinion that is to seek for alternative energy resource. The Federal Government, having constitutional rights over development of minerals and energy resources, should tap into the potentials and availability of resources for renewable energy in Sabah such as biomass energy in order to reduce the State’s dependency on non-renewable resources such as coal that is hazardous to the environment and people;
- I call on SESB to step up their performance as the energy shortage in Sabah is not attributed to limitation of energy resource but the ancient quality of power generation in Sabah and also the failure to upgrade the Sabah grid system in order to have sufficient power from the Bakun Dam to be channeled to Sabah;
- I would like to remind the government to also respect and fulfill the commitment made to protect and conserve the environment under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). By continuing with the plant, the government will be making gross violations of its own commitment under the Conventions mentioned above.
I sincerely hope that the government, stakeholders and people will continue to strive to save our beloved nature while we still can. I applaud efforts by groups such as Green Surf to highlight and advocate for environmental causes for the sake of saving our nature from further destruction. Let us move forward with our agenda to conserve our nature starting from today. Having said that let us all play our role in preserving and conserving our environment because every act counts and every effort matters.
Nurul Izzah Anwar
Member of Parliament
Lembah Pantai
