Sabah Environmental Protection Association | Promoting environmental awareness, education and conservation, with the people and for the people

64MW power plant project in Taman Millenium, Tawau is illegal and not following any proper procedure

27. July 2012 · Comments Off · Categories: Environment

PRESS RELEASE 21 JULY 2012

We would like to thank the Assistant minister for requesting us (SEPA) to prove that the plant is according to the procedure and detrimental to the people of tawau, exclusively for the people of Taman Millenium.

We SEPA will prove that this project is illegal and not following any proper procedure. We would like to highlight the followings:-

1. SESB is unlawfully occupying the state land/land reserved which fall under public residential purpose under Sabah Land Ordinance Section 166.

To prove the point, under the letter from Jabatan Tanah Ukur, REF; L.S.1019.1.10/23 which stated CL105386034 is under land acquisition is for the purpose of power transmission.

Under section 30 (bb), SPECIFIC RIGHTS RESERVED, the right of constructing supply lines for conveying, transmitting or distributing electricity, laying down gas pipelines shall be determined in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Land Acquisition Ordinance (Cap 69)

2. Zoning.

Under the letter from MPT ref: MPT/PBP.12.90.83 dated 03 September 1997 stated proposed planning brief on CL105361135, CL 105384834 and CL105361153 at Jalan Sin On Eastern, Tawau is zoned under residential area. Therefore the power transmission station is under the zone of the said area.

Under the Environmental Quality Act 1974, project proponent must make sure that the concept of the proposed project does not contradict any development plans, policies or any decisions of the government of Malaysia prior to EIA study, namely:

a) National physical plan
b) Structure plan
c) Local plan
d) Regional plan (inter-state planning)
e) Agreement between the Government of Malaysia and Kualiti Alam Sdn Bhd on the disposal of scheduled wastes in Malaysia
f) Agreement between the government of Malaysia and Pantai Medivest Sdn Bhd, Faber, Mediserve Sdn Bhd and Radicare Sdn Bhd on the disposal of clinical wastes from government hospitals.
g) Guidelines on highland development (Garis panduan pembangunan di kawasan tahan tinggi)
h) Guidelines on siting and zoning of industries

Meaning, the proposed Kubota power plant must be in line with the environmental quality act 1974, in this case, Kubota power plant is an industry and should not be build in the residential area.

Definition of “industry plant” means ant plant used for the generation of power or for any industrial use or for the operation of ships, dredges, locomotives, cranes or other machines

3. Power generation.

Under the Environmental Quality Act 1974, appendix 2, Section 13 A, the DOE explanation is there are no steam generation, therefore does not need for EIA report. However, we do not agree with the interpretation of the DOE. The key words under section 13 (a) are, steam generation, burning fossil fuel capacity 10MW, why DOE ignore that it burn ½ million liters of diesel with the capacity of more than 10MW to come to a conclusion that no EIA is required.

Section 13 (c), construction of combined cycle power station need EIA, in case of Kubota power plant; it has a single stage gas turbine power generation, meaning that Kubota power plant has only 30% efficiency whereas combined power plant has 60% efficiency. Therefore Kubota power plant will have more heat and air pollution. Why DOE do approved the project without the need for EIA.

Even though the DOE has given the license to Kubota Power Plant to operate, we believe that the Environmental Quality Act 1974 was not properly followed.

4. Procedure

What procedure is YB Pang is talking about whereby SESB does not follow the law? Kubota power plant is squeezed into a tiny piece of state land, whereby safety of the plant is not taken into consideration.

The millions liters of diesel tank is build too close to the main road and the fuel diesel discharge point is build right on the shoulder of the road reserve.

Generally this project does not take safety features into consideration be it fire, lightning, health and environment.

According to YB Pang, the plant is operating on gas/petrol and expected to complete by October this year. YB Pang is misleading the people of Tawau by stating it can operate by gas or petrol. Gas is contained in spherical shape tank and petrol is highly flammable is store underground. The tank that now being build is meant for diesel only.

SEPA need not to prove the whole project is detrimental to the people of Tawau because that fact is elementary.

According to YB Pang, that only the minority support of people of Taman Millenium, including SEPA. Does YB Pang understand under the EIA Act under the section on flora and fauna, even a monkey has to be taken into consideration, what more of the people of Taman Millineum. It is not about the minority, it is about the environment and law and not about politics.

GARY
SEPA TAWAU

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Related Link:
Borneo Post: Prove Tawau power project detrimental, Sepa told
Borneo Post: SEPA to prove power plant detrimental to people

KUKUSAN FOREST/TRIG HILL RESERVE – GAZ. NO. S14-49

25. July 2012 · Comments Off · Categories: Environment

SABAH ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION ASSOCIATION (SEPA) is very sad and disgusted to see that an iconic protected Kukusan Forest/Trig Hill Reserve, given by God and left behind by our forefather as 1st Class Forest Reserve for perpetually, is being given the go ahead to be blasted, mine until a toxic lake is created.

Never in the History of mankind that such a beautiful hill with potential for tourism, recreation and at the same time protect the climatic condition of Tawau, using loophole of the Forestry Enactment 1968, Environment Quality Act 1974 and poorly enforce Sabah Land Ordinance Cap 68, to legalize a foreign own public listed company, Hap Seng Consolidated Bhd to blatantly destroy our heritage Hill and forest reserve for a small profit.

According to Director of Forestry, Hap Seng operation in Kukusan Forest Reserve/Trig Hill is legal under section 15 of Forest Enactment, 1968 which state,

1) Saves as otherwise provided in this Enactment and notwithstanding the provisions of any other State law, no right of any description in or over a Forest Reserve or any part thereof shall be acquired except by virtue and in accordance with terms of, a licence agreement entered into by the Minister or of a licence.

1A) A licence agreement entered into by the Minister under subsection (1) of this section may provide for the planting of forest or timber trees upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed.

2) Any licence agreement entered into by the Minister under this section shall be subject to any admitted rights or conceded privileges and any special condition attaching to Forest Reserve concerned under the provisions of this Enactment, but subject thereto, where any provision of such licence agreement is inconsistent with any provision of this Enactment with any provision of this Enactment compliance with the provisions of such licence agreement shall deemed to be compliance with the provisions of this Enactment.

What is this Section 15 of the Forest Enactment 1968 which is so powerful that it allowed Hap Seng, under a Supplementary Agreement to occupy, quarry and mine our stone in the Kukusan Forest Reserve 155 acres for 15 years?

The forest Director is given a mandate by Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sabah to protect our Gazette Forest Reserve and not to destroy and make a profit. Section 15 of the Forest Enactment Act does not indicate that it allow a Minister to licence a private company to quarry and mine stone of such magnitude.

Forestry Policy and Enactment Act are there to protect our valuable Natural Resource and not to be capitalized by any party, be it forestry department or private company for that matter.

If Section 15 can be misuses, then no Forest Reserve can be save included Danun Valley, Maliau Basin, Kinabalu Park and other forest and mangrove reserve. There are always excuses to mine mineral, coal and stone from this areas.

Sepa want to question Forestry what legal meant? Between 1984 to 2003 when it was Class One Protection forest, to be left untouched for the maintenance of forest essential on climatic or physical grounds, violation fall under Section 20(1) and 33(1) and Section (30) of the Forest Enactment 1968.

When the public complained against quarrying activities in a Class One forest, what surprised us most was Kukusan forest/Trig Hill reserve was declassify into Class Two by the State Legislative Assembly to allow Hap Seng or its subsidiary to continue operation instead of chasing them away or charge them in court.

In 2006 Hap Seng Building Material Sdn Bhd applied to DOE for quarry operation on trigonometrically station Kukusan and in 2007 for pit quarry development at Kukusan and both cases DOE rejected.

Until May 2011 DOE approved EIA was given for whole life operation, meaning Hap Seng or its subsidiary was blasting and digging away illegally without a DOE licence, violating the Environment Quality Act 1974.

Trig Kukusan Hill is reserve under Gazette No. S.14-49 is protected by law under Sabah Land Ordinance Cap 68 Section 26 (1&2) and section 160.

SEPA would like to ask the Director of Forestry how he come to the conclusion that Hap Seng operation legal, in other country once a company has violated its law, they are not allow to operate the business anymore. In our case we bend the law to accommodate and reward the violated.

What more Kukusan Forest/Trig Hill worth billions ringgit in stone is given away by Forestry for two million ringgit and a small amount in taxes. In ten year time, Tawau or that matter Sabah will have to import stone to build road and house that meet JKR standard.

Within 10 years Hap Seng will blast and mine the whole Kukusan Hill under their whole life plan agreement with Forestry depart will eventually leaving a toxic lake behind not a creation park like Sunway lagoon. Most of the stone will be exported out of the Country like our timber. In the past, Hap Seng play a major role in depleted our valuable timber and now doing the same thing for our stone.

The sad day will come for our children when we run out of basic material for building our house, flat, highway, road, drain, port and etc and have to import or substitute with an inferior material just because our authority collaborate with violated and does not act according to the law.

Gary Yap
MEMBER OF SEPA (TAWAU)

SEPA Earth Charter Tees

17. July 2012 · Comments Off · Categories: Product

SEPA new Tees designed personally by Wong Tack. RM20 a piece. Sorry no postage delivery. Please make your booking via email to [info@sepa.my]. Payment and pick up direction will be given. Size is S,M,L,XL and 2XL. Stock is limited for certain size especially for S,M,XL and 2XL. Get it while it last!

Stock Information as 17 July 2012

S = 17
M = 40
L = 148
XL = 15
2XL = 19

Payment Method:

1. Please do bank in your money to the account below

Alliance Bank – 100390010004986 – SABAH ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ASSOCIATION

Do make sure you bank in to appropriate account.

2. Scan the bank slip and email to info@sepa.my as payment proof and your size order.

3. Please inform your pick up date to make sure our staff is in the office to pass you the shirt. Our office at the link below

http://www.sepa.my/about-us/office

At the moment, there will no postal order and the tee only available within Kota Kinabalu area where who interested need to go to office to get the shirt unless we have an event that we will inform in advance.

Future arrange will be made for other town and will be informed if available.

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The next Himpunan Hijau will be called by Lynas : Wong Tack

27. June 2012 · Comments Off · Categories: News & Updates

“The people will never retreat a single-step nor tolerate stagnancy. We will continue to push forward. Our second wave of people’s actions shall kick-off immediately!” said Wong Tack, chairperson of Himpunan Hijau.

The Himpunan Hijau steering committee has decided to kick start a Himpunan Hijau ‘BLOCKADE’ campaign straightaway. As we have promised, the people will not allow a single ounce of the Lynas’ ores to reach our shores.

“We’ll bring together tens of thousands of people from across the nation to send the shipment of Lynas’ toxic ores back to Australia,” said Wong Tack.

A special task force has been formed to drive the ‘BLOCKADE’ campaign. This special task force will ensure that the nation will be ready on the day the Lynas’ ores are approaching our shores. This campaign will choke the Kuantan Port and paralyse the entire operation of the port. It will definitely cause serious adverse economic repercussions to the entire East Coast region. It is a choice to face a temporary short term economic pain or permanently letting the future of this town being buried in the darkness of radioactive pollutions. It is now up to the authorities to decide.

“The next Himpunan Hijau will be called by Lynas,” exclaimed Wong.

At a meeting last night, the Himpunan Hijau steering committee has given the task to organize the ‘BLOCKADE’ campaign to a highly charged second echelon of young local leaders. Ten young men and women have courageously stepped forward to spearhead this campaign. More will join in later to form a well represented and powerful task force. Active work will start immediately to build a strong alliance of environmental comrades nationwide.

The Himpunan Hijau steering committee strongly believes that the future of this country belongs to youth. This is the time for them to step forward to uphold the right to protect their future.

Said Wong Tack, “For more than a year, responsible Malaysians have came forward, himpunan after himpunan, in the most peaceful manner to request the authorities to respect their rights and listen to their voices.

“But up until now, the only response from the authorities were gimmicks after gimmicks, one stupid and illogical statement after another. They continued to derail the issue, mislead, suppress, ignore and belittle the people’s intelligence.”

At this moment, the anger is boiling within the community.

“We, as the leaders of Himpunan Hijau have done our very best to contain the anger within the masses. We foresee that anger will be uncontrollable when the ores reach our shores,” concluded Wong Tack.

The authorities and Lynas should bear the whole responsibility on all eventualities due to their actions or inactions.

Steering Committee of HIMPUNAN HIJAU
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Members of the Himpunan Hijau Steering Committee :
Wong Tack (Chairperson), Andansura Rabu, Bang Seet Ping, Clement Chin Yee Kaing, Lee Chean Chung, Lee Chin Chen, Nasrun Amir, Ooi Boon Seng, Dr. Phua Kia Yaw and V.Arumugam.

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Sustainable Agriculture and Regeneration of Environment

09. June 2012 · Comments Off · Categories: News & Updates

Sabah Environmental Protection Association had organized a forum about Sustainable Agriculture and Regeneration of Environment. Two speakers are Hisanori Asami from EM Research Organization (Thailand) and T.Sawada Director of Syntropy Malaysia Sdn Bhd an expert from Japan.

T.Sawada assured that the EM (Effective Microorganisms) has no risk to the environment as it is locally produce with local material of each country. The risk of it become dominion is not an issue as it is an anaerobic microbe that that not require oxygen for growth. It could possibly react negatively and may even die if oxygen is present.

Furthermore, the use of microorganism is not new concept as the application already been seen in food and drinks fermentation process such as wine, tapai, kimchi and others that can bring benefits to body health.

EM potentially can attract the neutral microorganisms (known as opportunity organism) and turn it to good organism to get rid the bad organism in the river ecosystem that cause by the pollution of waste disposal by industries and household.

The successful application of EM to solve the salt pollution after tsunami and flood has gain trust among the farmers and Thai Government and it was now used to clean up the radioactive radiation after the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant disaster in Japan.

Preliminary result had shown the improvement in lowering the radiation level in farm land and those who has been using EM on their soil has shown no radiation effect on their land. Mr Sawada explained, that it is due to the EM deionization nature to purified water and gravitation waves to neutralize the waste radiation emission.

Wong Tack the President of SEPA would like to thank the sponsor, Silverrado Corporation Sdn Bhd for their hospitability to sponsor and host it at their restaurant and also the speakers and those who came to the forum.

For more photos, please click link below

Forum on Sustainable Agriculture and Regeneration of Environment

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SEPA will hold a forum about Sustainable Agriculture and Regeneration of Environment‏

05. June 2012 · Comments Off · Categories: News & Updates

SEPA will hold a forum about Sustainable Agriculture and Regeneration of Environment‏ on 7th Jun 2012, 1.30 pm to 4.30 pm at Kampung Nelayan, Puteri VIP Room, Bukit Padang.

The speaker Mr Hisanori Asami is the Regional Manager of Asia Pacific, EMRO (EM research Organization) based in Bangkok Thailand.

He holds a Master of Science degree in Horticulture from University of Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan.

Mr. Hisanori Asami is a student of Dr. Teruo Higa. Dr. Teruo Higa discovered EM and developed EM technology for sustainable agriculture and environment conservation.

The public is invited to attend this forum for free and learn from Mr Hisanori Asami on his experience in promoting the EM technology in farming.

His effort to promote EM technology has been a success especially in Thailand where it has been given recognition by the Thai government.

The success of this technology is spreading among the neighboring countries around Southeast Asia such as Malaysia, Philippine and Indonesia.

Mr Hisanori Asami’s visit to Sabah is a good opportunity for the local farmers and planters to learn and adapt this technology to keep our environment safe and sustainable.

SEPA would like to thank Silverrado Corporation Sdn Bhd for sponsoring the event location and refreshments during the forum.

Please confirm your attendance at FB event page at link – FORUM : Sustainable Agriculture and Regeneration of Environment

Backstory of EM Technology

EM™ is a coined from the words “Effective Microorganisms™” by Professor Dr. Teruo Higa, who developed EM™. EM™ consists of a wide variety of effective, beneficial and non-pathogenic microorganisms produced through a natural process and not chemically synthesized or genetically engineered. It comes in a liquid form.

EM™ has a broad application. EM™ has no adverse effects on and is beneficial to plants, animals, and humans. Very simply put, EM™ lives off our waste while we live off “their waste”. Their waste simply translates to a healthy environment for us in which EM™ becomes inactivated, therefore, a mutual existence can be had. EM™ only creates the condition for best results, that is, the users should nurture the condition and provide the resources for EM™ to perform optimally. Microorganisms exist naturally throughout the environment from rock crevices to our internal organs. In our present day environment, putrefactive microorganisms, those types responsible for the rotting of organic matter to maladies in organisms, dominate much of the sphere of the microorganisms.

EM™ has the potential, given the conditions, to suppress the putrefactive microorganisms and dominate this sphere and creates re-animated surroundings, that is, organics are transformed through the process of fermentation as opposed to putrefaction, and living organisms, as well as, inorganic materials are enabled with the means to impede deterioration. Deterioration is here meant the activity of active oxygen or free-radicals through which organisms degenerate and inorganic materials corrode, as in iron rusting. EM™ can thus, also, be considered as an antioxidant.

Source: http://www.emrojapan.com/about-em/about-em.html

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SEPA Lahad Datu Appreciation Dinner

22. May 2012 · Comments Off · Categories: News & Updates

Sabah Environmental Protection of Sabah had organized an Appreciation Dinner and Environment Photography Exhibition in Lahad Datu at Dewan Sri Perdana on Sunday 19th May 2012 in order to appreciate those who had help in lahad datu during the NO COAL campaign.

The appreciation dinner that was chaired by Yyonne Chew was a success where about 400 had attended.

A Community Development issues was presented by Alice Mathew and Lanash Tanda who are the SEPA Committee Member.

Group Five Point One Nine, Group Traccie and Da’ Boyz also had performed and special danced performed by own SEPA Member Jackson Rosedennis.

Wong Tack also had made a speech to share his experience on Himpunan Hijau and remind the people the importance to take care the environment.

SEPA would like to thanks to those who attended the Appreciation Dinner and those who help and contributed their time and effort to the environment cause.

For more photos, please click link below

SEPA Lahad Datu Appreciation Dinner

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SEPA meeting with Restaurant Kg Nelayan Bukit Padang management

14. May 2012 · Comments Off · Categories: News & Updates

SEPA President Wong Tack, Secretary Paul Chang, Committee Member Julia Hwong and Member Helen Hiew had made a visit to the management of the Restaurant Kg Nelayan Bukit Padang to discuss about the well being of the environment surrounding the Taman Tun Fuad Stephen.

The visit was received warmly by Ms Jacqueline Wong the Director and Mr Christopher Wong the General Manager of the Silverado Corporation Sdn Bhd. Suggestion and ideas was exchange on how to improve the environment of the park for the public benefits.

SEPA will be lending their expertise to the management in the effort to start the environmental awareness among their staff and management and ensure this historical park can be one of many a green lung for the city. The management has assured their cooperation on this green effort and acknowledge the important to protect, preserved and restore the surrounding environment.

SEPA greatly appreciate for the gratitude that the restaurant management for their commitment and hope this cooperation will be the example for many other company to follow for the sake of our city environment.

Please click link below for more photo

SEPA meet Restaurant Kg Nelayan Bukit Padang Management

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Sustainable Farming @ SK Convent St. Francis, Kota Kinabalu

04. May 2012 · Comments Off · Categories: Projects

President of SEPA Wong Tack, Secretary Paul Chang and Consultant of the project Shum went to SK St Francis Convent to witness the corn harvest of the sustainable farming that was started few months ago

The farm project yield a good quality corn harvest.

Headmistress Sim Cho Kein, teachers and students join together to harvest the organic corn and taste the first hand quality.

Wong Tack and Paul also gave few organic corn yield for sampling to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment Sabah YB Datuk Masidi Manjun and his Permanent Secretary Datuk Michael Emban

SEPA would like to thank to SK St Francis Convent Headmistress Sim Cho Kein, Teachers and Students for their good respond of this sustainable farm project and hope the health awareness of organic vegetables benefits can be applied to their everyday life

For more photos, please click link below

Sustainable Farming @ SK Convent St. Francis

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Facial Massage Therapy and Environment Pollution and Health Seminars by Speaker Cheang See Kwoi

02. May 2012 · Comments Off · Categories: News & Updates

Participant are listening to Mr Cheang opening introduction.

Showing the exact position of where the line in connection to our body health.

Participant follow and do a practical training with guidance by Mr Cheang

Mr Cheang explains the roles of the environmentalist.

For more photos, please click link below

Facial Massage Therapy and Environment Pollution and Health Talk

25 April 2012

SEPA will be hosting a seminar talk on 29th April 2012 at Likas Condotel 3rd Floor Gaya Room. The first seminar is the Facial Massage Therapy where the speaker Cheang See Kwoi will be talking in Chinese and English from 2.00 – 4.00 pm.

The second session is the Environment Pollution and Health and also by Cheang See Kwoi in which he will present in English language about the air, land and water pollution and its relation on our health from 8.00 to 10.00 pm.

Cheang See Kwoi was a former air traffic controller, trainer instructor and facilitator with the Royal Malaysia Air force and United Nation peace keeping mission from 1973 to 1993.

In May 2001, Cheang was suffering from the last stage of liver cancer. All the years of hard work and stress had taken its toll on him which he was sleeping about five hours a day and smoked profusely.

Cheang See Kwoi, 55, Pensioner (far left)

Because they were unable to do anything else, the doctors did what they normally do when a patient reaches terminal stage, they send him home.

With the help of several alternative therapies he regained strength. Simple movement was not a problem anymore. His fever dissipated, and soon enough, so did the pain.

Today he is working in the Art of Living Stress Management Programme as a facilitator, counsellor for Alternative Health Care and physiological therapist for Healing Breath since 2002.

Please call SEPA member Mr Khor at 0178502222 for more details about this seminar.

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