Fed Dept's total disrespect of local authorities

Approval from TMC should be obtained for geothermal

 TAWAU -The commencement of the RM419 million first geothermal power plant in Malaysia by a federal ministry, with a capacity of 130 MW, in Tawau without seeking approval from the Tawau Municipal Council (TMC) is again an evidence of arrogance, said Tawau member of parliament Datuk Chua Soon Bui.

She said any federal ministry, department or agency should know the rule of law and not to supersede any state or local authority in Sabah.

"The project might be approved by a federal ministry or by a much higher authority, but the role and the authority of the Tawau Municipal Council should not be undermined," she said yesterday.

Chua said it is time that the federal authorities learn to respect the local authorities before any major project is to be implemented.

She complimented TMC president Datuk Ismail Mayakob for his brave decision to issue the 'stop order' until the Tawau Green Energy Sdn Bhd has submitted the development paper to be studied and approved for the blue-print development master plan in Tawau.

She hoped the Tawau Green Energy Sdn Bhd should be answerable for such ignorance or ill intention.

Chua said she welcomed the geothermal power plant in Tawau as a sustainable green energy production subjected to EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) study and approval.

She said the expensive lesson learnt from the abandoned coal power plant in Sahabat, Lahad Datu had cost taxpayers of more than USD22 million or about RM70 million in compensation because EIA was not done nor approved prior to the agreement.

She also asked if the geothermal power plant can be attached to the power grid nine kilometers away, then why the 64 MW power plant at Taman Millenium cannot be built some kilometers away from the grid and some distance from the housing?

Chua also hoped Tan Sri Dr Fong Chan On, the chairman of the newly formed Sustainable Energy Development Authority under the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water, would provide job opportunities to Sabahan graduates and senior staff.

"It is not good enough if such big project does not provide employment opportunities or business participation to local Sabahans or companies," she said.