Kota Kinabalu: The RM2 million losses incurred due to electricity theft in Sandakan happened to a certain extent due to Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd’s (SESB) bureaucracy itself, said Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) Sabah Information Chief Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan.
Referring to a statement by SESB which also attributed this problem to the many villages that are occupied by illegal immigrants, he said because of such perception SESB was not interested in supplying electricity to the villages.
“SESB itself does not appear to be proactive in solving the electricity supply problem in most villages, especially in the Batu Sapi parliamentary constituency, although this problem has been unresolved for almost 30 years.
“How can we let the villagers be in the dark and their daily routines disrupted due to no electricity supply using meters?
“It is also understood that many residents tried to apply legally but were not entertained and various reasons were given by SESB.
This is based on the complaints from Kampung Cenderamata itself.
The complaints by these villagers in Batu Sapi as well as the high installation costs for electricity meters have contributed to electricity theft.
Most of the villagers in Batu Sapi cannot afford such expenses.
“There is no doubt that there are a few residents who are taking advantage, but the majority of residents have no other choice but to continue their daily lives,” said Khairul, who is also Bersatu Batu Sapi Division Chief, in a statement, Friday.
He also said the data or census done that most of the villagers living in Batu Sapi are illegals was completely unfounded.
“Therefore, I request that SESB work together with the villages to find the best solution.
Humanitarian issues need to be given due attention in this matter.
This is about the life of the village community,” he said.
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