TAWAU: Sabah DAP Committee member Philip Yap called on the Government to consider building a new power plant on Sabah’s east coast to end its long-standing dependence on electricity supply from the west coast.
He said the proposal is a strategic move to expand generation capacity, as constructing a transmission grid alone would not be sufficient to guarantee long-term energy needs for East Sabah.
“If we truly want to develop Sabah’s east coast as a more advanced economic hub, then resolving the energy issue must be a priority,” he said.
He said rapid development projected over the next decade would significantly increase energy demand and that sectors including tourism, manufacturing, logistics, and food and beverage processing would all benefit from a comprehensive resolution of the electricity supply problem.
Philip also urged that the long-awaited Sabah Southern Madani Link (SSML) project be completed on schedule, saying it was more than an infrastructure project but an investment in the future of the people and Sabah’s economic development as a whole.
The SSML involves the construction of a 275kV electricity grid network linking Sipitang, Tenom, and Kalabakan before terminating in Tawau.
He said the first phase, covering the 60km Sipitang-to-Padas route, was targeted for completion in 2028, while the second phase, spanning about 270km from Padas to Tawau, was scheduled for completion by 2030.
Philip said completing the project on schedule would have a major impact on electricity supply stability across the entire east coast, particularly for Tawau, Semporna, Lahad Datu, and Sandakan, which had long faced energy supply challenges.
He added that the SSML, implemented under the Madani Government led by the Prime Minister, demonstrated Federal commitment to addressing electricity supply issues that had long burdened Sabah.
“When I see the SSML finally being implemented, I feel very happy and grateful. What matters is not who proposed it, but that the people will ultimately benefit from the resolution of this electricity supply issue,” he said.
