Sabah to decide on coal if it benefits people – CM

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Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Mohd Shafie Apdal speaking to participants of a course for board of director members in government statutory bodies and agencies at Hyatt Regency Kinabalu on Monday.

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah will make a bold move to power up the state should it be beneficial for the people, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.

Shafie reiterated that the Malaysian Prime Minister’s proposal to light up Sabah using the state’s abundant coal supply has neither been overruled or accepted as the government is still exploring its benefits whilst being mindful of environmental concerns.

“That was a proposal that came from Tun Mahathir and of course, we will have to look into it and the various options not only coal. I know that there are new technologies nowadays that can be applied, that can reduce environmental impact. Some of the areas for example are like solar, hydro and gas,” said the Chief Minister at the launch of Board of Directors of state statutory bodies and government agencies course at the Hyatt Regency Hotel here yesterday.

“Even gas is plentiful for us and we haven’t explored to the maximum, our potential of running energy using gas. So that is one of the areas that we are looking into. But how best we can realize that, of course, it will take a little bit of time. Of course, I was made to realize that our reserve is plenty. Coal reserve in Sabah is one of the biggest in the country.

“That option can be done if it is benefiting to the state. Of course, we should be mindful of the things that are coming from all the NGOs (non-governmental organizations), all the environmentalists,” he added.

Shafie reminded the once unwanted Bakun Dam project in Sarawak is now offering the people there cheaper power energy compared to Sabah.

“Even now they are capable of sending the energy to other places like Sabah too. That of course, there were times when people were objecting to it but there are also times that we have to be bold in our decision-making to make sure it benefits the people in the state in the long run,” he said.

“But we have to be mindful of the environmental problems. So it doesn’t mean that when people throw ideas to us, immediately, we reject that,” clarified the Chief Minister.

During his visit to Sabah for Malaysia Day on September 16, Mahathir said that the government would not pursue nuclear energy but was considering locally-sourced fossil fuel like coal, saying more can be done with it.

The prime minister said that the country had a lot of coal resources in Sabah and Sarawak which could be exploited, instead of continuing importing coal from neighbouring countries.

Sabahans rejected the idea of mining here to subsidise energy to West Malaysia when the state is still suffering from lack of infrastructure including water and electricity supply in rural areas.