Sri Tanjong Assemblyman Chan Foong Hin has voiced his opposition to the illegal logging which officials have deemed legal under the pretext of site clearing for a geothermal power plant in Tawau.

According to Chan, his onsite visit to the Tawau Green Energy (TGE) geothermal plant site at Andrassy, Apas Kiri revealed that illegal logging has caused floods in the area. This was also alleged by UMNO MP Kalabakan Ghapur Salleh. Chan was accompanied by kampong residents, and his assistants and an UMNO branch chief Amissain Latip to visit the site following complaints from residents that include the reduction of land area caused by the increase in river turbulence.

Also, the clearing of the site for the plant has caused murky river water which affects 600 local residents who are forced to live on river water since the JBA (Jabatan Bekalan Air) water supply is inconsistent.

“The UMNO grassroots leader and kampung residents have shown their grievances and emotions against the TGE project. Amissain alleged that the Chief Minister (CM) has abused power to grant the project to his own son, and therefore he urged CM to “step down gracefully”, or Prime Minister to step in, even though he called himself as strong BN supporter,” said Chan who added that Amissain blamed the state assemblyman of Balung Syed Abbas for not “daring to speak out”, and that it was “all the games of high level people”.

Illegal logging

An article in the Star reported Sabah Forestry Department Director Sam Mannan claiming that the logging in the area was to clear the area to pave roads. Chan however says that a an 18 km road is ready and waiting to be tarred, but trucks with logs are still seen exiting the area.

“Federal government allocated RM35 million to construct the access road. So, why are they still witnessing truck loads of logs coming out? I dare Sam to come to the site with me to prove who’s wrong who’s right,” lambasted Chan.

The direct impact of the clearing of the site via illegal logging has caused flash floods after heavy showers, he said.

Geothermal plant is an UMNO crony project

According to Chan, a 2013 search in the Companies Commission (SSM) revealed that the majority 52% shareholder of TGE was Yamani Hafez bin Musa, who is the UMNO Sipitang division Youth Chief (now UMNO Sabah Youth Chief) and also son of the Sabah Chief Minister, Musa Aman.

Chan explained that in May 2014, the major shareholder has now been changed to Awang Kading Tang, the former Sabah UMNO Youth chief and current deputy UMNO division chief for Sandakan.

“Hence, the project is definitely a UMNO cronies project,” said Chan.

He also said that in a previous state assembly sitting, the Chief Minister in his written reply to Chan’s question about why TGE had been granted the contract when it has no experience in this industry, said that the technology and expertise needed “could be outsourced”.

“Does it mean that anybody can form a company to lobby for Renewable Energy Power Purchase Agreement (REPPA) and then outsource to others? It is ridiculous to encourage such a Ali Baba culture in official statement made by government,” Chan clarified that he was not against the development of clean energy, but that transparency and accountability had to be adhered to especially since its impact included flash floods in the villages.

“People have a lot of questions, even the UMNO MP of Kalabakan shared his concerns,” he reminded.