It is totally embarrassing and insulting for Sabahan who will celebrate their independence from British at the end of the month and it’s 51 years anniversary of joint formation of Malaysia together with Sarawak, Malaya and Singapore (left afterwards), when the Sabahan still suffering with major infrastructural problem, which already resolved in our partner’s region. There is seldom major blackout in Sarawak and Malaya Peninsular, but it’s a norm for Sabah. Sabahan can’t tolerate with this anymore, and we should demand for a major makeover of Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB).
It was reported not long time ago that, our Sabahan leader who holds the position of Federal Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister, Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili, has announced that SESB would undergo a major reinvention as part of the government’s moves to further improve the power supply situation in Sabah. He has mentioned too that, construction and commissioning of the two power stations in Kimanis (SPR Energy and Kimanis Power) with a capacity of 100MW and 285MW respectively, would potentially provide the grid system in Sabah with a daily margin of between 150MW and 220MW.
So, why do we still facing the never-ending blackout problem? This morning the whole Sabah Eastern Coastal Zone, namely Sandakan, Lahad Datu, Kunak, Semporna and Tawau experience a regional power disruption due to the transmission line from Kolopis to Segaliud tripped. It was about 4hours of electricity disruption, many businesses and daily livings affected, but our poor public no chance to voice out their grievances and forced to accept the losses.
The answer is simply that our poor distribution and transmission system, with about 80 percent for the electricity cables were of the old types, can’t go along well with the increased power supply. Maximus has promised that the federal government has set aside RM1.8 billion to enhance transmission and distribution of electricity in Sabah within the next three years.
I would like to take Dr Maximus to a serious task — get the RM1.8 billion to spend in the next year budget, which would be tabled in parliament this coming October. Sabahan can’t tolerate with No Action Talk Only type of lip service, we want action.
For instance, Maximus has highlighted that SESB would undergo a major makeover. What are the details? Re-borneonize SESB to a state owned company, no longer a TNB subsidiary? He should disclose his master plan on energy policy for Sabah.
Maximus also talked about “everybody is accountable for the key performance index (KPI)”. But he also admitted that the System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) target of 350minutes for Sabah might not be achievable this year due to the Janaury 17 statewide black out.
Thus, does Maximus accountable for the KPI of SAIDI for Sabah? If yes, please specify it. I won’t ask Dr to resign, but please, get the RM1.8 billion to replace the old cables in the next year budget.