DAP Sabah welcomes Forestry Director’s statement that illegal logging in Sabah is at its lowest in 30 years as well as the adoption of the eleven strategies in the State’s forest conservation.
The hard work put in by the State Forestry Department was impressive.
Since Forestry Director Datuk Sam Mannan made the announcement therefore it would mean nothing should stopped him to open the gate for DAP Sabah and NGOs to visit the geothermal power plant site in Apas Kiri Tawau.
Seeing is believing. I have repeatedly called for a joint site inspection to the site of Tawau Green Energy (TGE), the first geothermal power plant located in Apas Kiri, Tawau as the site clearing there always alleged to involve in massive logging.
The volume of logs that have been felled as well as acreage of the land involved in the TGE project were not consistent so far.
The latest figures given by the Government was that a maximum 450 hectares of jungle would be cleared off to pave the way for the geothermal power plant construction.
But these figures seems to be contradicting with what the local community has been seeing over the past two years.
How long does it take to clear 450 hectares? I think it should not that too long in time. As the people representative in Tawau, it’s my moral obligation to find if there is any truth to the allegation of massive logging there.
Therefore, a joint-site inspection to the site is vital to clear the air.
I also hope that Mannan would enlighten me on the proper procedure for those like me and environmental NGOs wishing to go for the joint-site inspection, together with Forestry Department, Sabah Parks and TGE.
By opening the gate of TGE to have the joint site inspection, people would be convinced that Forestry Department have nothing to hide.
Factors attributed to flooding are complicated. Climate change effects towards human living are beyond our imagination. That’s why environmental conservation is important now.
I really hope to see the first geothermal power plant located in Tawau is a real green project. We need authorities action to give us confidence on the project is genuine and it would not converted to a logging concessionaire without exploring the geothermal for power supply.
Mannan was reported on Saturday denying the recent flood was due to illegal logging.
He also took time to reiterate on the eleven measures taken by the State Government through his Department.