Tawau MP objects to nuclear energy power plants

(Source:The Borneo Post)

Posted on March 19, 2011, Saturday

TAWAU: Tawau member of parliament Datuk Chua Soon Bui has expressed strong objection to the building of nuclear energy power plants in any part of Malaysia, especially in Sabah, after learning the lessons from the recent devastation of the nuclear power plants in Fukushima, Japan caused by the earthquake and tsunami recently.

Chua said members of parliament had been given a briefing by the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water on the proposed building of a nuclear power plant in Malaysia by 2021.

“Korea and Japan have utilised nuclear energy for over 50 years with little alternative energy sources. Both countries have exhibited excellent work culture, good work attitude, high technology and highly skilled human resources required by nuclear technology.

“At a time when the risk of radiation occurs due to the explosions of the nuclear power plants, 50 skilled technicians have voluntarily opted to guard the plants.

“They have sacrificed their lives for the survival and benefit of the Japanese people. They risk exposure to radiation with the possibly of death within two weeks.

“This is the culture of patriotism at its highest, a sense of loyalty to their emperor and country. In their attempt to contain the devastation, we have also witnessed the readiness of the government in disaster management and the readiness of the people to face the effects of the disaster without power, water and food,” Chua said yesterday.

According to her, Malaysia still has abundant natural resources and should start to plan for sustainable renewal energy production now before it gets too late.

The government has changed the name of the ministry to what it is now, and our Prime Minister and the government’s commitment speaks volume in the effort to reduce GHG (green house gas).

The abrogated plan to install a coal power plant at Sinakut, Lahad Datu on the other hand reflected the government’s tendency to bulldoze through development without considering the impact on the environment nor the interest of the people.

Chua was also given to understand that about 40 per cent of solar glass panels and some of the storage voltages cells in the world market were manufactured in Malaysia.

“That gives us all the more reasons for Malaysia to work on solar power plant or integrated power production,” she said.

“Although I have received a reply from the ministry to say that it would be too expensive to build but we should consider the long-term benefit it could bring to the country as solar power is free. We should also work on other sustainable energy sources such as biomass or methane gas from oil palm mills,” she added.

Taking the hint from Germany which had closed down seven of their nuclear power plants, Chua reiterated that she would object to any nuclear energy power plant to be built in Malaysia.

Bahasa Malaysia Bible Holy Scriptures Desecrated

-"The 1982 order issued under the Internal Security Act 1960 did not state that any form of words had to be endorsed on any copy of the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia."-

(Sources: NECF Malaysia website)

马来西亚基督教联会
CHRISTIAN FEDERATION OF MALAYSIA
(PERSEKUTUAN KRISTIAN MALAYSIA)

2011年3月17日
马来西亚基督教联会对污辱圣经之事媒体文告
（以英文为准）

马来西亚基督教社群因政府不但污辱而且污损圣经，而心灵深深的被创伤。

最初听到政府答应退回在吧生港口及古晋被扣押的马来西亚文圣经时，大家都感到欣慰和欢
喜。

可是欢喜却是短暂，很快就变成悲伤和哀悼，因为退回是带有某些条件的：每本圣经必须印


“”上一个系列编号，有关控制出版可兰经部门的印章，以及奉内政部之命等字。

这意味着，如今马来西亚文圣经被视为限制品，也是人控制了上帝的话语。这完全是冒犯基
督徒之事。所有尊敬宗教经典的人士都会对此行动感到震惊。

马来西亚基督教社群一直都采取善意行动，极大忍耐，并不以牺牲本身基本信仰的原则，去
寻求解决方案。政府却没有投桃报李。这么多年来，政府通过有系统性及不合理条件和限制
的实施，不断的更移目标。

我们从来没有同意用任何字眼来说明圣经只供基督徒用。1982年发出的命令是根据1960年
内安法令，也没有提到必须印任何的字眼在任何的马来西亚文圣经上。

所以，我们完全不能接受，最新内政部
2011年3月15日的来函，对退还扣押圣经的一连串新
施加的条件。我们永远不会同意任何污辱圣经之事，因为上帝的话语对我们来说是神圣的。

我们也完全拒绝政府对马来西亚文圣经的论点，即此圣经有损国家利益和危害马来西亚的安
全，并且被列为颠覆刊物。

作为基督徒，我们不知为何我们的圣经会成为国家安全的威胁。但我们许多人却可以见证，
圣经所带来的希望，以及医治破碎生命和家庭。

因此，我们坚持政府撤回有关施加退回在吧生港口及古晋被扣押圣经的条件。鉴于有的圣经
已经可能被印上有关的条件，我们将不会接收这些的圣经。

我们呼吁所有的马来西亚人，从西马到沙巴和砂拉越，各阶层人士，一起团结，拒绝任何企
图在我们所爱的国家里，限制宗教自由。

我们邀请所有在马来西亚的基督徒保持冷静，并继续为此事得到一个有尊严及尊敬的方案祷
告。2011年3月20日的星期日是标志圣经在吧生港口被扣押的第二周年，我们呼吁所有在马
来西亚和其他地方的人，以这天为祷告和安静反思的日子。

此致，

马来西亚基督教联会
会长黄满興主教以及全体执委会。

Press Statements and Articles

CHRISTIAN FEDERATION OF MALAYSIA
(PERSEKUTUAN KRISTIAN MALAYSIA)

17th March 2011

CFM MEDIA STATEMENT

Holy Scriptures Desecrated

The Christian community in Malaysia is deeply hurt that the Government has desecrated and defaced the Bible.

Initial news that the Government had agreed to release copies of the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia which had been impounded in both Port Klang and Kuching was greeted with joy.

However, this joy soon turned into grief and mourning when it was discovered that the release was subject to certain conditions. Each copy has to be stamped with a serial number, the official seal of the relevant department of the Bahagian Kawalan Penerbitan Dan Teks Al-Quran, and the words "by order of the Minister of Home Affairs".

This means that the Bahasa Malaysia Bible is now treated as a restricted item, and the Word of God has been made subject to the control of man. This is wholly offensive to Christians. Any person who respects the Holy Scriptures of any religion would be appalled by this action.

The Christian community in Malaysia has always acted in good faith and with great patience to find amicable solutions without compromising our fundamental beliefs. But that good faith has not been reciprocated by the Government. It is the Government that has moved the "goal posts" over the years through a systematic imposition of unreasonable conditions and restrictions.

We have never agreed to any wording to be endorsed on Bibles to say that it is only for Christians. The 1982 order issued under the Internal Security Act 1960 did not state that any form of words had to be endorsed on any copy of the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia.

The latest letter from the Ministry of Home Affairs dated 15 March 2011 is therefore a set of new conditions imposed on the release of the impounded Bibles which is wholly unacceptable to us. We will never accede to any desecration of the Bible since the Word of God to us is sacred.

We also wholly reject the Government's contention that the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia is prejudicial to the national interest and security of Malaysia, and treated as a subversive publication.

As Christians we wonder how our Holy Scriptures can become a national security threat where countless number of us find it helpful in bringing hope and healing to broken lives and homes which we can testify to. Besides it commands us to be better citizens of our beloved nation.

We therefore insist that the Government withdraw the conditions imposed on the release of the Bibles impounded in Port Klang and Kuching. Given that copies may already have been endorsed, we will NOT take delivery of those endorsed copies.

We call on all Malaysians, from Semenanjung and in Sabah and Sarawak, and from all walks of life, to come together in unity to reject any attempt to restrict the freedom of religion in our beloved country.

We invite all Christians in Malaysia to remain calm and to continue to pray for a dignified and respectful resolution of this issue. As Sunday 20 March 2011 marks the 2nd anniversary of the impounding of the Bibles at Port Klang, we call on all those in Malaysia and elsewhere to dedicate themselves to a day of prayer and quiet reflection.

Yours sincerely,

Bishop Ng Moon Hing
Chairman and the Executive Committee,
Christian Federation of Malaysia

Young Always Need The Truth- Rights For Sabah

"History should not be distorted and should be accurate" - said Tan Sri Simon Sipaun.

"While others have seen the opportunities and hopes for the people of Sabah, Are the Malaysians in Sabah aware and courageous enough to take the opportunities in their own hands to defend our rights and justice for all." - Datuk Chua Soon Bui-MP from Tawau, Sabah 

(Sources:Sapp official website)

Inconvenient Truth - Rights Of Sabah

Tawau, March 17, 2011: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) Vice President, Datuk Chua Soon Bui, said it is really shocking that the UMNO Youth from Sabah has taken such a step to lodge a police report against Tan Sri Simon Sipaun (ex-Vice chairman from SUHAKAM, also an ex-state secretary) for his comment at the Inter-party dialogue and leadership seminar. (Source:TanSri Simon Sipaun's speech)

"Many of the long overdue untold truth were revealed at the seminar which a lot of people especially the younger generations are not aware of.

"The truth hurts and the truth is always painful to the ears for some. It is sheer ignorance and arrogance that information on the formation of Malaysia, the Malaysia agreement, the consequential relationship between the federal and state authorities, the Rights of Sabah and Sarawak within the federation, the changes in the civil society related to racial polarization, threatening of illegal immigrations (Source:jayzap2008.wordpress.com in 2008), citizenship given to dubious people, were denied. Such information shields lights on the erosion of our rights, strategy for the future development of Sabah and in the best interest of the people in Sabah," Chua stressed.

"Despite of the many years of appeal from Sabah on the recognition of 16th September 1963 as the birth of Malaysia, it was only last year, 47 years later, that government has fully recognized, publicized on such important part of the history. History should not be distorted and should be accurate said Tan Sri Simon Sipaun.

"I have known Tan Sri Simon Sipaun for some years especially when he was in Suhakam and have been in contact on the issues on illegal immigrants and Native Customary Rights on natives land. He is the only one from Suhakam who took so much pain and hard work to research, to go to the ground especially the very rural villages to investigate such issues that are unjust to the people of Sabah, where a lot of politicians had not even visited. All these had spoken volumes in themselves, and I know none others who are more knowledgeable and brave enough to talk about this subject matter, credit should be given. The final recognition will come from the people of Sabah, and in the form of votes.

"Malaysians in Sabah should also take hints from the Prime Minister that Sabah and Sarawak are the fixed deposit of the BN government of today. Isn't it time for Malaysians in Sabah to voice out our concerns on the sufferings of the people in the poorest state in Malaysia but is rich in resources, the unfair development and inequitable sharing of wealth, the threatening of illegal immigrants, the Cabbotage policies, the employment opportunities and many many more. It is the window of opportunity that the people of Sabah are made aware of all these facts ,wthether the government is sincerely dealing with the difficulties faced by the people or rather turning a deaf ear, or report to the police to seek an easy way out politically. She said please don't insult the intelligence of the people in Sabah.

"The message by Raja Petra (Source:Raja Petra talks at ANU) is very clear, as he said during his recent public lecture at the Australian National University in Canberra, that "Key to Putrajaya" is in the hands of Sabah and Sarawak, "Whoever rules Sabah and Sarawak will rule the whole Malaysia".

"While others have seen the opportunities and hopes for the people of Sabah, Are the Malaysians in Sabah aware and courageous enough to take the opportunities in their own hands to defend our rights and justice for all.

Chua further urged the people to understand and discover this potentials of these opportunities. She said, "IT IS MORE THAN SABAH THAT WE CHOOSE TO SEE, IT IS SABAH AS HOW WE CHOOSE TO MOULD IT", and she has made that choice.

——————————————————————————————

(取自沙巴进步党中文网络）


“具知識和勇氣談論沙課題”
蔡順梅: 西門西豹揭真相


2011-03-17(本報訊)斗湖區國會議員拿督蔡順梅指出，前人權委員會委員丹斯里西門西豹揭開許多隐藏已久的真相，正是可以保護沙巴人民權利、沙巴未來發展策略，以及確保沙巴人民的利益免受蚕食的資訊。

她說，這些有關馬來西亞成立的資訊，如馬來西亞協議、聯邦與州政府的關系、沙巴與砂拉越在聯邦内的權利、公民社會因種族比例而改变、非法移民的威脅、批准公民權予可疑者等全盤被否决，是一種無知與傲慢的做法。

“這些資訊都是許多人，尤其是年輕一代所不了解的真相…我知道，真相總是傷人，甚至也對一些人來說，總是刺耳的！”

也是沙巴進步黨副主席的蔡順梅是針對西門日前在跨黨派對話和領袖研討會上揭開有許多隐藏已久的真相言論，於昨日發表文告這麼置評。她也對西門所發表的這一席話，竟遭到沙巴巫青團報警對付而感到非常震驚。

她同時表示，雖然沙巴在過去多年來一直要求把1963年9月16日公認為馬來西亞的誕生日，但是直到47年後的去年，政府才正式承認這個歷史的重要一頁，正如西門所言，歷史不應被扭曲，歷史應該是正確的。

她說，她認識西門多年，尤其是當對方在人權委員會時，彼等經常聯系討論非法移民和原住民習俗地的權利等課題。

Nuclear accidents and energy policy

Datuk Yong Teck Lee-SAPP President
(Photo source: from Sapp official website)

"At the moment, the Malaysian government has no guidelines on precautions to be taken by citizens in the event of a regional nuclear accident. I doubt whether the authorities and the medical services have the resources, training and disaster management capabilities in tackling radiation risks coming from a foreign country."said Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) President Datuk Yong Teck Lee

(Sources: SAPP official website)

Kota Kinabalu, March 16, 2011: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) President Datuk Yong Teck Lee, said with so much negative publicity generated by the Japanese Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plants in the aftermath of the earth quake and tsunami, it is has become highly unlikely that the Malaysian government will proceed with any final decision to build nuclear power plants for the foreseeable future.

"However, we should be concerned about other nuclear plants which are dangerously near to Sabah should a nuclear accident happen. For instance, the Philippines's Bataan Nuclear Plant near Manila. This Bataan plant is being mothballed but might be rehabilitated as the Philippines is running out of energy options. There are also several nuclear plants in Guangdong and other parts of Southern China.

"At the moment, the Malaysian government has no guidelines on precautions to be taken by citizens in the event of a regional nuclear accident. I doubt whether the authorities and the medical services have the resources, training and disaster management capabilities in tackling radiation risks coming a foreign country.

"Japan, China and other countries have little options for their energy needs. That is why they go nuclear.

"But Malaysia has the Four-Fuel strategy of using oil, hydropower, coal and natural gas. In the case of Sabah, it is very sad that we are still without an energy policy.

"Oil fuels have become prohibitively expensive, coal has been rejected and hydro power projects are not getting anywhere. The only viable option left is natural gas. But we are not allowed to use our natural gas because the gas is exported via Bintulu to give billions of ringgit in profit to Petronas. This is economic exploitation, pure and simple.

"Natural gas remains our most viable option for the next decade supported by bio-mass, mini-hydros and other sustainable energy sources. But Sabah wasted precious three years debating about the controversial coal power plant. Without any further delay, the government must commit itself to building a natural gas pipeline from Kinamis to Sandakan.

"Or else Sabahans will be condemned to suffer electric power shortages and high electric tariffs." 

Malaysia Cabinet has not decided on nuclear power plants project

(Source:TheStar news)
Thursday March 17,2011
KUALA LUMPUR: The proposal to construct nuclear power plants for electricity has not been decided yet by the Cabinet, said Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui.

The Malaysian Nuclear Power Corporation, tasked with setting up nuclear power plants, would be the best source of information as it received all reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency, he said yesterday.

“I think we have to wait for the report to be presented by the nuclear development agency under the Prime Minister’s Department,” he told reporters after unveiling a line of locally developed and manufactured electric scooters.

Chin announced plans to build two 1,000MW nuclear power plants in December last year, resulting in mixed reaction from the public.

One plant was expected to be ready by 2021, and the other a year later.

He did not answer further questions on whether the Government would still push for the construction of the two power plants in light of the damage to Japan’s four nuclear reactors from a massive earthquake which struck the country last Friday.

In Cyberjaya, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad reiterated his stand against having a nuclear power plant in this country.

He noted that during his premiership, the Government had decided on four fuel strategies namely oil, gas, coal and hydro.

“We had bad experience already with nuclear. I don’t know whether people are aware about it,” Bernama quoted the former prime minister as saying yesterday.

Asked whether he would advise Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak not to have nuclear power plants, Dr Mahathir said: “I’m not an adviser. That is why I use my blog.”

In Klang, Selangor executive councillor Elizabeth Wong suggested Malaysia focus more on solar energy.

“Malaysia is set to become the world’s number three producer of solar cells while we have zero production capacity for nuclear. The Federal Government must start incorporating logic into its energy planning policies,” she said in a statement.

Malaysia should learn from Japan & focus on Safer Energy Supply-by Charles Santiago

"Japan has had 60 years of experience with nuclear power,yet there has still been a history of accidents. Malaysia should learn from the lesson and use a more safer plan instead of propose NUKE Plan"

(Source:post by Charles Santiago-MP for Klang on March 14,2011)

Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water Peter Chin yesterday indicated that Malaysia’s plan to build two nuclear power plants will proceed despite the nuclear emergency and meltdown in Japan.

He suggested that the “government will not do it secretly without informing the public”.

The Minister’s response comes two days after what is considered as the worst nuclear emergency involving a nuclear power plant since the Chernobyl disaster 25 years ago.

The tragedy surrounding the 11th March 2011 tsunami in Japan also signals a warning about the dangers of nuclear energy. Following the earthquake and tsunami, several Japanese nuclear power plants are in a state of emergency.

The New York Times reports that partial meltdowns had occurred at two crippled reactors and indicated possibilities of a second explosion. Four more reactors are facing serious cooling problems.

Japan declared a nuclear emergency when one reactor at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant

Fukushima Daiichi 1, has experienced a partial meltdown and explosion.

Fukushima is one of the 25 largest nuclear power stations in the world.

The ongoing crisis at the Fukushima 1 nuclear power plant in Futuba, just 150 miles north of Tokyo, suggests that nuclear plants pose a tremendous risk to the public and environment, even with safety protocols and management expertise designed to handle natural disasters.

Japan has had nearly 60 years of experience with nuclear power, yet there has still been a history of accidents. In 1999, there was a major accident at Tokaimura where a nuclear fuel-enrichment facility had an out-of-control reaction, leading to radiation leakage affecting hundreds of people and crippling the local agriculture industry.

If a country with as much expertise and experience as Japan can fall foul of nuclear accidents, then Malaysia should not go nuclear as the risks and costs of failure are too great.

The problem with nuclear power, compared to all other sources of electricity, is that if and when things do go wrong, the consequences are far, far worse. No problem can occur at a solar power plant that can lead to 200,000 residents having to flee for safety beyond a 10 km radius. This is what happened this weekend in Japan as Fukushima went out of control.

The Japanese government has ordered the largest mobilization of their Self-Defense Forces since World War II to assist in the relief effort.

In the Fukushima case, ironically, the earthquake knocked out the station’s own electricity supply, leaving the pumps unable to supply coolant to the reactor. The backup diesel generator was also knocked out by the waters of the tsunami.

A nuclear reactor is like a giant pressurised water boiler, it requires vast quantities of water to cool the reactor, which is why nuclear plants are usually next to rivers or the sea.

However, this leaves them vulnerable to water-related disasters such as tsunamis, floods and storm surges, or even droughts. Location near water also means that any pollution can quickly spread to other areas.

Malaysia sees more than its fair share of flood-related disasters. Any nuclear plant built locally could well suffer a similar problem.

The misfortune at the Fukushima plant has resulted in radiation levels 1,000-times the normal level in the control room and eight times over normal immediately outside.

Experts have already expressed concern that there is a possibility of a hydrogen explosion following further meltdown, and the culture of secrecy prevalent in the local political system – a culture the Barisan Nasional government shares – may make it hard to figure out what has gone wrong.

Japan has already suffered the scandal of the 1995 Monju plant leak that was covered up by the government-linked agency managing it.

Radioactive poisoning of the local population and environment is but one problem. The other is the economic cost of such disasters. Not only could a power plant worth billions be rendered so contaminated as to be useless, a surrounding 20 km area could also be left unfit for human use.

Furthermore, under Malaysia’s atomic energy law, nuclear plant operators are not liable for any damage resulting from natural disasters.

Japan embarked on nuclear energy because they lacked domestic fossil fuel alternatives, and because their industrialisation took place well before renewable energies such as solar power were widely available.

Malaysia has no such excuse as we have oil, gas, biomass, hydro resources, and abundant sunshine; not to mention that we are now set to be the world’s number three producer of solar cells.

26 April marks the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster. This anniversary and the events in Japan should be a reminder that those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Malaysia should exercise wisdom, forego nuclear, and pursue safer, cleaner and healthier forms of energy supply.

Thus, I call upon Minister Peter Chin to abandon all ideas to continue with the nuclear adventure.


Charles Santiago

Member of Parliament, Klang.

___________________________________________________

Gugur Idea Nuklear called by Charles Santiago MP Klang
(Source: TVSelangor)



___________________________________


Third blast heard at Japan nuclear plant - authorities
(source: at RT new - rt.com)

Ex-Suhakam chiefs set up Proham

From left: Tan Sri Simon Sipaun ,Prof Datuk Hamdan Adnan
(Photo:courtesy by TheStar Online)

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Suhakam commissioners have set up a new society, “Persatuan Promosi Hak Asasi Manusia” (Proham).

Tan Sri Simon Sipaun has been appointed Proham chairman and Prof Datuk Hamdan Adnan, the deputy.

Datuk Michael Yeoh, Datuk N. Siva Subramaniam and Datuk Dr Chiam Heng Keng are secretary, assistant secretary and treasurer, respectively.

Datuk Karam Chand Vohrah and Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria are committee members.

According to a Proham statement, the society would be officially launched on March 21.

This would be followed by a roundtable discussion on the United Nations Convention on elimination of racial discrimination, in conjunction with the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrim-ination.

The roundtable panel will be moderated by Yeoh, with Hamdan, Dr Chiam and Dr Denison as panel members.

(Source:TheStar Online)