KOTA KINABALU, April 24 -- Although keen to boost its electricity reserve margin, Sabah remains reluctant to pursue coal-fired power generation due to its commitment to environmental protection and sustainability, said Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.

While the state is under pressure to ramp up power generation to meet rising demand, Masidi said any short-term benefits from coal must be weighed against long-term environmental and reputational risks.

"It's my personal stand that we should try to avoid it. There is so much at stake. We need to talk about sustainability.

"While we need to sacrifice something that can actually be good for the state, we need to look long term and how we position ourselves," he said.

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