SESB cuts off power to S’kan squatter site

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SANDAKAN: Electricity supply to C3 Power company which supplies electricity to Sim Sim and Batu Sapi squatter settlement was cut off on Thursday when the company failed to keep its words to pay its outstanding electricity bill despite repeatedly given reminders by Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB).

SESB General Manager (Corporate Communication), Chendramata Hj Sinteh stated that SESB was supposed to cut off the power on July 9, but had given another chance to C3 Power to arrange for payment of its outstanding bill.

However, SESB did not receive any payment from the company to date, she said.

She said in March this year, some 100 villagers of Kampung Bakau, Kampung Sundang Laut and Kampung Batu Sapi Laut held a peaceful demonstration in front of Sandakan Municipal Council building here to protest against the cutting off of electricity supply from SESB to C3 Power company.

“C3 Power is an Independant Power Distributor that receives electricity from SESB to be supplied to squatter settlement in the three villages.

“The villages are categorised under squatter settlement, hence are not entitled to receive electricity directly from SESB.

“Over the years, the villagers have been paying to C3 Power which charged them higher than SESB. For instance, they are charged RM40 for one refrigerator, RM35 per television, RM11 per florescent light every month,” Chendramata explained.

She said fFollowing the demonstration, on March 12, SESB issued a statement stating that C3 Power had a debt of RM250,000 with SESB.

A spokeperson from SESB told the Borneo Post that after negotation between SESB and C3 Power in March, they had come up with an agreed amount for C3 Power to pay monthly.

However, in June and July, this year, the company had been paying with bounced cheque.

SESB had given another chance for the company to clear its debt, but the payment is yet to be received to date resulting in the cutting off of power supply to the company on Thursday.