We refer to the Malaysiakini reports Coal-fired plant: Sabah gov't listens to cries of protest and Campaign against coal-fired plants gathers steam .

We are residents of Sandakan who are eligible to vote in the next general election.

Normally, there will be many issues which would influence a voter’s choice in an election but in the next general election, our vote will be determined by only one issue and that of the proposal to build a coal-power plant in Seguntor, Sandakan.

Coal is a very dangerous and harmful material. Exposure to coal burning can cause birth defects and gene mutation to our next generations plus deadly diseases such as cancer and heart attacks.

It can poison our water, air and seafood (which Sandakan is famous for), as well as destroy our flora and fauna.

We are not confident that a profit-making company which operates a giant coal power plant would spend sufficient money to keep us safe and healthy. In any event, it would be foolish of us to put our family's fate and ours in their hands.

Any 'environmental impact assessment report' is actually meaningless to us. As Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman said:

‘After weighing the pros and cons, the cabinet decided to scrap the proposed project, because we do not want to risk the welfare and health of the communities in the area as well as any adverse impact on the environment...’

‘I know some say with today's technology, the proposed plant is safe and clean but some experts also disagree’. (New Sabah Times , April 3, 2008)

If the health of the wild animals of Danum Valley and the people of Lahad Datu are important, we believe the same to hold true in Sandakan.

It is very rare for a single issue to decide a vote in any election but this will be so for us – because it is also rare that a single decision will affect so many people and for so many generations in Sandakan.

Therefore, if the Barisan Nasional federal or state government allows a coal power plant to be built within a 100 km radius of Sandakan, we will definitely not vote fo Barisan Nasional in the next general election no matter who the candidate is.

We are thankful for what BN has done for Sandakan so far so that means we might not vote for the opposition candidate either (but we are not sure about that yet).

However, because of this coal power plant issue, we are very sure that we will definitely not vote for BN anymore.

True, Sandakan needs new energy sources, but that does not mean that we will give up our health for electricity. Anyone would know that coal is a cheaper and easier solution – we do not need to elect wise leaders to tell us that.

We elect a government in order to find intelligent solutions to the people's well being, not vice-versa. Please do your part as the people’s representatives and leaders to save Sandakan and our future generations.

We repeat, So long as BN listens to the people and scraps this coal power plant, there will be no reason for us to not vote for Barisan Nasional the next time.