Muguntan Vanar, The Star 31 Oct 09;
KOTA KINABALU: Five environmental groups have united to push for the use of ''green energy for Sabah.
The group of non-governmental organisations dubbing themselves as ''Sabah Unite to Re-power the Future or Green Surf is opposed to the use of dirty energy like proposed coal powered plant planned for the east coast of the state.
The NGOs involved are Land Enpowerment Animals and people (LEAP), Partners of Community Organisations (Pacos Trust), Sabah Environmental Protection Associatio (SEPA), the Malayan Nature Socieity (Sabah branch) and Sabah office of WWF Malaysia.
The Green Surf group, which was launched at Tanjung Aru beach here, said that the coalition aims to present positive solutions to current energy situation in Sabah.
''It is time to promote and provoke a paradigm shift in thinking about the future energy in Sabah, Cynthia Ong, a member of the coalition who is pushing for the government not to allow the controversial coal plant in Tungku, Lahad Datu.
''It is not a question of no coal plant, we want to present to the leadership that there was alternatives in renewable energy.
“We are not against the government, we want to work with them,” she said.
Green Surf is calling on Sabahans to sign a petition to show their support about their concerns over climate change with emphasis on the planned Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd’s coal fired power plant.
Green Surf has set up a web page in Facebook and already has some 1,000 members and are urging more to visit www.nocoalsabah.blogspot.com to sign the online petition against the coal plant.
The group claimed that a coal plant was not in line with Sabah shoreline management and Sabah development Corridor to make it one of Asia’s most liveable places by 2025.
Green Surf also welcomed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razaks 2010 budget that plans to set up green pioneer townships and they hoped that Sabah as a regional leader in conservation would be considered for the townships.
