Ewon
KOTA KINABALU: The new State Government is set to provide power supply to every village in Sabah as part of its long-term plan to ensure that the people in the rural and remote areas are well provided.
Rural Development Minister Ewon Benedick said the government was determined to do so despite the challenges faced by many areas to enjoy the facility and that the government would be initiating the plan though the Sabah Electricity Board (SESB).
According to the recent SESB statistics, there are 603 villages with 19,671 houses in the state that are still not equipped with power supply.
“Based on the information given by the State Economic Planning Unit, Lahad Datu and Tenom are the two districts where all villages are provided with electricity.
“The districts with the most villages and houses yet to receive electricity are Sook, Paitan, Sandakan and Tawau,” Ewon said in a statement after being briefed by SESB at the latter’s building on Tuesday.
Among the challenges faced in providing power supply is the fact that most of the houses in rural areas were built far apart from each other.
The Kadamaian assemblyman was made to understand that priority would usually be given to villages with more than 10 houses.
Ewon pointed out that 706 houses from the 19,671 houses without electricity in 23 villages were listed in the Rural Electricity Supply Project (BELB), which is currently progressing.
“For the BELB project next year, consultants appointed by the ministry have implemented measurement works for 3,800 houses in 120 villages throughout Sabah,” Ewon said.
Meanwhile, SESB Planning General Manager Ahmad Nassaruddin Kamarulzaman disclosed that Sook had recorded the highest number of villages that had yet to receive electricity, namely 59 villages with 2,681 houses.
This is followed by Paitan (55 villages with 2,744 houses), Sandakan (49 villages with 3,642 houses) and Tawau (39 villages with 3,098 houses).
Ahmad added that 49 villages and 961 houses in Ranau do not have electricity along with Kemabong (36 villages with 774 houses), Tuaran (35 villages with 281 houses), Memebakut (24 villages with 316 houses), Tambunan (24 villages with 129 houses), Nabawan (23 villages with 664 houses) and Banggi (20 villages with 147 houses).
Also present in the briefing was SESB BELB Main Project Chief Engineer Suadi Wahab who explained that among the problems identified during the implementation of the project were the weak performances of contractors and project consultants as well as delayed document preparations for land acquisition propels for construction of Sub-District Main Division (PPU).
He added that the delay in obtaining approval for the proposal of line installation involved with the road upgrading works conducted by the Public Works Department (PWD) as awell as BELB project implementation issues.
It is understood that 95 per cent of the State’s population enjoy a 24-hour electricity supply and that the Rural and Regional Development Ministry (KKLW) had allocated RM1.64 billion to develop Sabah’s BELB infrastructure.
“Based on data from KKLW, from 2010 to 2017, 24,823 houses in rural areas in Sabah have electricity supply,” Suadi added.
He revealed that among the projects under Rural Development Ministry that benefitted the people were the Diesel Generation Project, the Solar Hybrid Project, 132kV Grid Line Extension, 33kV and 11kV Grid Line and Village Road Lights.
“Thus, close cooperation between the Ministry and SESB can further optimise the BELB Project Implementation in the State,” Suadi contended.
He also said statistics on the number of villages and houses connected to the BELB Project Grid from 2010 to 2017 were 699 with 29,260 houses from 25 parliamentary constituencies in Sabah.
On the BLB Hybrid Solar operating in Sabah, he said that currently 23 hybrid diesel stations with 6,870 houses in Pensiangan, Sipitang, Sandakan, Kudat, Tawau, Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu and Semporna receive electricity supply.
The BELB Project for the Hybrid Solar System is still in place in villages including on remote islands.
Commenting on Village Road Lights, Suadi said a total of 38,297 units had been installed throughout Sabah for Phase 1 to Phase 8.
“For Phase 9 (2018-19) 6,960 units will be installed in 24 parlimentary constituencies throughout Sabah. Of these, 2,349 units had been installed and the rest are in progress,” Suadi disclosed.
Among those present in the event were Rural Development Ministry Deputy Permanent Secretary Sualim Sanan, KPLB Deputy Director Christini Alus and People’s Wellbeing Section Principal Assitant Secretary Charles W Dabbi.