Dr Rundi (fourth left) performs the gimmick to officiate the event. Looking on are Dr Abdul Rahman (third left), Liwan (fifth left), Alice (front row, right) and others. — Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi
KUCHING: The Sarawak government is determined to achieve 100 per cent electricity coverage for the people in the state by 2025 despite facing higher costs in remote areas, says Utilities Minister Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi.
He said currently, the connectivity rate in the state is at 92 per cent and expected to increase to 97 per cent by the end of 2020.
“Currently, the eight per cent or 26,400 households in rural areas still do not enjoy 24-hour electricity supply and our target is to achieve full electrification by 2025,” he said during the earth-breaking ceremony for the Additional or Late Applicant Funds (Alaf) programme at Kampung Sungai Berdaun in Santubong, yesterday.
The project involves four villages, with the other three being Kampung Sungai Batu, Kampung Sungai Lumut and Kampung Buntal. Its cost is covered by a special allocation for the Rural Electricity Master Plan approved in 2018, amounting to RM2.37 billion, for the years 2019 and 2020.
Dr Rundi explained that for remote areas or places with no roads, the government will utilise the Sarawak Alternative Rural Electrification Scheme (Sares) or solar power to enable folks there to enjoy 24-hour electricity.
“We are working together with Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) on this, and SEB even won an award in Italy two years ago for Sares,” he said, adding with 24-hour electricity supply, children will be able to study better and can use computers for their education.
Separately, the minister advised the people to report to the authorities any cases of burst water mains or pipes, as opposed to only highlighting the matter on social media.
Earlier, Assistant Minister of Utilities (Water Supply) Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi said aside from electricity supply, Kampung Sungai Bedaun will also get treated water supply for 83 households who will have their own individual water meters.
The project, he added, has already commenced and is expected to complete by this year end.
On the Alaf programme for the four villages, he said it will benefit 43 households from Kampung Sungai Bedaun, 18 from Kampung Sungai Lumut, 39 from Kampung Buntal and 49 from Kampung Sungai Batu.
“The project will cost RM1.5 million under Alaf, benefiting 670 people from 149 households. The project in Kampung Sungai Bedaun has commenced and for the other three villages, will commence mid-November. The project is expected to be fully complete by March next year,” Dr Abdul Rahman said.
Assistant Minister of Utilities (Rural Electricity) Datuk Liwan Lagang and the ministry’s permanent secretary Dato Alice Jawan were also present yesterday.