DAP accuses Max of lying about gas plant
Published on: Thursday, January 18, 2018
Kota Kinabalu: Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sabah accused Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili of lying for suddenly talking about building a coal power plant in Tawau. Its Chairman Stephen Wong said that the construction of the coal power plant should not be an idea to begin with as it will damage the ecosystem and environment. He said Ongkili constantly promised that construction of a natural gas plant will begin in Sandakan but has yet to see any results since the announcement two years ago.ADVERTISEMENT "In fact he (Ongkili) promised last year and then I asked him again which he then promised it will be starting this year."And in parliament he has never mentioned that there will be any coal power plant. He reassured there will be no coal," Wong said in a press conference at DAP headquarters, Wednesday.He also said the Government had proposed to establish coal power plant in Lahad Datu few years back and subsequently in Sandakan but was rejected by the people.ADVERTISEMENT Last Friday, it was reported that peninsula-based Afmaco Energy Berhad (Afmaco) had announced intention to invest in developing a proposed 180-acre Clean Fuel Refinery Complex (CFRC) in Pasir Putih, Tawau, to produce clean fuel and energy in a closed and controlled environment.It was said that the plant will be running on a proven environmentally friendly method using lignite (known as surface coal which is close to charcoal) as the raw material that produces clean fuel in generating ample electricity supply while incurring zero waste.
ADVERTISEMENT
Wong also expressed his suspicions saying that this project has been kept behind curtains by the government for quite some time."Where this company (Afmaco) from and who is the owner? Why suddenly show up and mention about coal?"This company has not received the green light so how can they announce that in six months they want to commence work?"Why Malaysia constantly wants to use this thing (coal power plant) when even China is reducing their coal usage?" he questioned.He urged the government to reconsider as the power supply issue faced in Sabah will not be solved by this proposal but instead give a new problem especially towards the environment.Meanwhile, DAP Sabah Secretary Chan Foong Hin requested updates for the share that Sabah was supposed to be "receiving" from the Petronas LNG9 (PL9SB) Sdn Bhd, a Petronas subsidiary company, to operate the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Train 9 in Bintulu, Sarawak.Chan said it has been since 2014 that this issue was highlighted with no known results when, in fact, Sabah should be getting 10 per cent from the natural gas extraction from Kimanis that has been sent to the production facility in Bintulu.He said this in relation to Sarawak government which is believed to have reached an agreement between Petronas LNG Train 9 and which the government will be receiving 10 percent stake from the facility."Our Chief Minister had announced the similar thing back in 2014 during the State Assembly and he said we can get 10 per cent."But last year during the second sitting in August, I had a quarrel with him over this issue because until now we have nothing."And Musa argued saying that we need to negotiate to acquire the share and claimed that he never said they (Petronas) will give the share but instead buy the share," Chan said.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
During Nov State Assembly sitting, Chan said he had submitted a written question to Musa to follow up on this issue."His answer was hopefully by the end of 2017 the transaction would be settled but yesterday (Tuesday), Sarawak has already their 10 percent share. Where is our 10 percent?" he asked. - Jeremy S Zabala