Citizens concerned with plans to build a coal-fired power plant in Lahad Datu are now using creativity to speak out against the proposed project.

A group of local divers brought their message to the Tunku Abdul Rahman marine park off Kota Kinabalu during the weekend, taking underwater photos with a T-shirt with the words 'Stop Coal Power Plant' - a clear message to halt the 300 megawatt project.

NONE They also took short videos of their plea to scrap the plant at the shores of the globally significant Coral Triangle, signalling 'no' with their fingers, local environmental group Green SURF said in a statement today.

One of the divers, Shartner Liew, said that going underwater with a T-shirt was the group’s way of telling the government that they want alternative options to be used in generating power for Sabah.

"As divers, we are worried about the impact that the coal plant will potentially have on marine life at Dent peninsula, and the rest of the east coast. We want to spread the word to the nation to stop the coal-fired power plant.

"That is why we decided to do this together, as a team of friends who happen to be divers. We were joined by friends from other parts of the country," he said.

NONE Liew and his friends fear that reefs on the east coast, including those at dive sites like Sipadan, Lankayan and Mabul, would be negatively impacted if a power plant is built in Lahad Datu.

He said several tourists at the marine park had shown interest in what the team was doing, and this was its way of  creating awareness.

Green SURF, a coalition of five non-governmental organisations opposing the proposed coal-fired plant planned for Lahad Datu, is seeing a rise in the number of individuals and groups coming forward to support the call for the government to use green technology to power Sabah instead.

- Bernama