Tawau Green Energy Sdn Bhd is urged to reveal the total number of logs felled and royalty paid to date as a consequences to the clearing works for the geothermal power plant in Apas Kiri here.
I received numerous complaints pertaining overloaded logging trucks from Mile 8 Jalan Apas to Tanjung Batu.
This is not the first time logging transport issue been raised up. MP of Kalabakan, Datuk Seri Abdul Ghapur Salleh, has brought up the issue on Jan 7 this year.
He questioned about the legitimacy of the timbers given the fact that there is no more logging site nearby to Tawau area. He has urged Malaysia Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) to step in and investigate the matters.
But there was no outcome since none of the authorities responded to Ghapur.
As far as I know, there is only one site clearing which harvested numbers of logs nearby Tawau area, which is geothermal power plant project site located in Apas Kiri.
The first geothermal power plant in the country is managed by Tawau Green Energy Sdn Bhd (TGE), and they just signed MoU with Universiti Malaysia Sabah and Atlas Copco before Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili last weekend.
I had nothing against the development of clean energy in Tawau.
But the issue now is about transparency and accountability. People has a lot of questions in their mind, even MP of Kalabakan also share the same concern. Therefore, the company alleged involved in the logging and all the related authorities should come forward to clear the air.
According to the written answer in the State Legislative Assembly last November, the project site of geothermal power plant was leased to TGE by Sabah Parks on Aug 17, 2012 for 50 years.
TGE also obtained occupation permit from Sabah Forestry Department for 50 years on Nov 19, 2012.
Apparently the land and the timbers on the said land, owned by state government, therefore owned by the people of Sabah.
So, the question is, even if TGE needs to clear the site to develop geothermal power plant there, are they the legitimate owner of the timber and can they sell the logs to generate income for the company?
I think the profit belongs to people of Sabah.
Secondly, there was also a question of the number of logs felled and the amount of royalty paid to the government.
According to the written answer by the Chief Minister in the State Assembly last November, the TGE was given incentive tax allowance which was approved by MIDA on Sept 13, 2013.
I think that even TGE should enjoy incentive for encouraging them to develop renewable energy, but any income generated from logging as site clearing, should not be considered as part of their initiative to develop geothermal power.
Therefore, should the profit generated by the logging activity there tax exempted?
Thirdly, was there special permission for the logging trucks to flout the law and carrying excessive loads?
Despite numerous complaints raised by the public and even MP of Kalabakan there was no action taken by all related authorities.
Overloaded trucks not only endangered the public, but also would cause damage to the road, and finally we the public have to bare the cost. Is it fair to the lay man on the street?