Upper Padas Hydroelectric Project Improve SESB's Capability to Generate Power

 

Tenom: The Government has identified a unique hydroelectric project with high potential to generate reliable and affordable electricity for the long term for Sabah.

Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Maximus Ongkili said construction of the Upper Padas Hydroelectric Project (UPHEP) situated at the Padas basin, up-stream of Kuala Tomani in Tenom, would proceed next year.

With a capacity of 180 MW, the project is targeted for completion in 2019.

Dr Ongkili said the project had been approved with a government soft loan of RM569 million for SESB's equity injection into a special purpose company to be set up to undertake the project.

The total project cost is estimated at RM2.3 billion, he said, when opening PBS Kemabong division AGM, Saturday, where he informed the division members on the Government measures to improve electricity supply in Sabah.

Earlier, Dr Ongkili, who is also PBS deputy president, made an aerial inspection of the project site as well as the existing Tenom Pangi hydro power station.

On the potential of the project, he said the UPHEP would not involve a large water catchment area at only 590 hectares or involving 2.3 hectares per megawatt.

In comparison, the Bakun hydroelectric project requires up to 29 hectares of land per megawatt of power generated and the Murum hydro with 26 hectares per megawatt.

"Hence, this project can qualify for the Clean Development Mechanism status under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change," he said.

Furthermore, he said, the construction of the UPHEP would not only increase SESB's capability to generate power but also provide a flood mitigation measure especially for Beaufort and Tenom.

He also stressed that the project would create employment for 1,000 people during the construction as well as resuscitate the economy in Tenom.

"This infrastructure is expected to save the Government about RM4bil in 40 years of the project operation as it is undertaken by SESB and a consortium to be set up by the federal government.

This can also subsequently reduce SESB's dependency on government subsidy, aside from costs and losses saved from possible flooding," he said.

The State Government, he added, would ensure the preservation of the ecosystem at the project site.

SESB is currently conducting a detailed engineering study and relevant activities associated with the special Environment Impact Assessment study.Daily Express

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Edu Blueprint boon to Sabah students: Max

Published on: Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Kota Marudu: The Education Blueprint will bring positive changes especially to Sabah and Sarawak which will benefit enormously from the reforms.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Maximus Ongkili terms the Education Blueprint as a transformation programme that aims to strengthen the present system and improve weaknesses in order to fulfill the education needs of the people, in line with the national education policy and global challenges.

"Some people have doubts about the blueprint but in actual fact it will bring a lot of good as well as improvements, including benefiting mission schools and vernacular schools," he said.

Dr Ongkili added that the Blueprint is also to ensure quality teachers to produce quality human capital for the country. It also reflects the importance placed on education as one of the seven national key result areas on "improving student outcomes".

He said this before presenting the government's RM100 aid to 100 students of SMK Tandek who were the first students in the constituency to receive the assistance.

The RM100 aid is to help students cover their fees and cost for the start of the school year, given out under Budget 2013 as a continuation of the government's measure first implemented last year.

A total of 1,800 students from SMK Tandek will receive the aid.

"This is part of the government's initiative to ensure the interest of the people, including the younger generation, is uplifted and their future is brighter. Barisan Nasional cares for our children and the younger generation of this country, consistent with our slogan Janji Ditepati (Promise Delivered)," he said.

Dr Ongkili also advised the students to put to good use the government's initiatives to give them better education opportunities.

"Education is the most powerful weapon a person can possess, which no one can take away from you but no one can hand over to you either without you putting in your own efforts," he told the students.

Source : Daily Express

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‘Discourage close kin from marrying to prevent Thalassaemia’

3rd October, 2012

KOTA MARUDU: One way to prevent incidences of Thalassaemia is for village leaders to forbid couples with close blood relations from getting married unless they have gone for blood screening.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Maximus Ongkili said it was critical for couples who are close relatives to determine whether they had the genetic disorder or are Thalassaemia gene carriers.

“This would prevent them passing on the genetic disorder to their offsprings,” he said when launching the World Thalassaemia Day Sabah level celebration held at the Kota Marudu Community Hall.

Dr Ongkili, who is also Kota Marudu MP, said he had directed the village headmen and village committees in his constituency to make it a requirement for would-be spouses who are known to have close blood relations.

“This does not mean couples with Thalassaemia cannot marry but knowing their health status could help them make more informed decisions,” he said of health condition which is linked to marriages between people of close blood relations and is prevalent in the rural areas.

Dr Ongkili also said that out of the 1,000-odd known Thalassaemia patients in Sabah, the highest were registered in hospitals in Kota Kinabalu (391), followed by Sandakan (135) and Kota Marudu with the third highest at 103.

“However, the patients in the Kota Marudu hospital include some of those from Kudat and Pitas who prefer to be treated in Kota Marudu,” he said.

Read More : New Sabah Times 

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BN delivers on its promise in Kota Marudu – Ongkili

2nd October, 2012

KOTA MARUDU: The government’s RM120-million allocation to build an asphalt road and implement an Agropolitan programme to provide economic activities and development for the resettled 450 families in Gana here is a good example of a promise delivered by the Barisan Nasional (BN), said Kota Marudu MP, Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili.

The science, technology and innovation minister said the RM60-million allocation to upgrade the timber road and another RM60 million for the Agropolitan programme were “a generous and caring commitment” for the 3,000 people there.

The families are from 10 villages, scattered within and adjacent to the Lingkabau Forest Reserve, who were relocated through the Gana Resettlement and Integrated Development Project in 1997.

“The Agropolitan programme will allow the villagers to carry out rubber planting for income while the upgraded road will make Gana more accessible and bring development to the villages,” he said during the ground-breaking for the fourth phase of the Jalan Talantang-Gana Road upgrading project, here.

Read More : New Sabah Times

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Coming polls to be the last for me: Max

Published on: Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Kota Marudu: If Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili is chosen by the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and Barisan Nasional (BN) leadership to defend his Kota Marudu parliamentary seat and wins it in the next general election, it will be his last term, he said.Ongkili, who is also PBS Deputy President, told delegates at the PBS Tandek 27th annual meeting, here, that he was ready to serve the constituency for the last time before making way for a younger, capable local leader to take over."Nevertheless, I will continue to serve the people in other capacities such as a mentor and advisor," he pledged.He said the Kota Marudu parliamentary seat as well as the Tandek and Matunggong state seats under it, remained to be BN strongholds."The Kota Marudu constituency has progressed enormously over the past 10 years with the support and special attention of the BN Federal and State governments," he said."This can be seen from new development programmes taking place in Kota Marudu, which include construction of two new secondary schools (SMK Marak Parak and SMK Langkon), a RM300 million water reticulation system and the Marak-Parak road to connect Kota Marudu to Ranau."Besides this, Kota Marudu has also enjoyed one of the highest quotas for housing for the poor in the state," he added.Ongkili attributed these successes to the fact that Kota Marudu folk had always been ardent supporters of BN.Meanwhile, Ongkili's sudden interest in Keningau district, as seen by his presence during the recently concluded district-level Tadau Kaamatan celebration, sparked public speculation as to whether he would shift base there.The Keningau parliamentary seat is currently held by Tambunan Assemblyman and Deputy Chief Minister-cum-Infrastructure Development Minister as well as Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) President, Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.They noted that although Dr Maximus had studied at a school in Keningau previously, he seldom came to the district.Dr Maximus, who is Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, is PBS Deputy President and the party's likely choice as replacement for Pairin in Keningau should he (Pairin) not wish to continue.There was earlier speculation about Pairin's health but the latter said he was fit to lead the party to another election battle.There was also talk that Jack Nointin, who is PBS Liawan Division chief, would take over Pairin as Keningau MP if Dr Maximus decides to continue holding onto his Kota Marudu parliamentary seat.

Daily Express

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