LAHAD DATU: Traders here are hoping that Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (Sabah Electricity) will consider reducing electricity charges by taking into account the losses incurred by business premises due to the power supply disruption experienced since Saturday (Sept 13).
A check found that most of the affected traders also hoped that the Government could channel assistance, such as giving rebates on electrical items.
A sundry shop trader in Kampung Wawasan, Mohd Sahid Abd Majid, in his 40s, said frozen products like ice-creams, chickens and fast food were affected due to spoilage, thus affecting his daily earnings.
“This resulted in losses of between RM400 and RM450 a day in sales. In my area, I only get power supply for three hours a day… The uncertain hot weather adds to the challenges we are facing.
“I hope Sabah Electricity can immediately address the power supply disruption, which affects many parties, besides providing mobile generators in critical areas in every district, including business premises,” he said.
The east coast of Sabah experienced power outages following a disruption in the 275KV Kolopis-Segaliud transmission line on Saturday (Sept 13).
Fresh chicken trader in the Tungku area, 36-year-old Yuliana Yulius was left ruing the poor response from the public despite her having to sell her fresh chicken stock at a capital price of RM10 per kilogramme as she wanted to avoid losses.
“The villagers did not want to buy because they feared that the chickens were no longer fresh due to the long period of power cut.
“I hope the Government and Sabah Electricity can find a concrete solution and have back-up plans to avoid such a recurrence,” said Yuliana.
Another food trader in Kampung Segangan 1, Hasmah Nandung, 56, said such power outages can damage a lot of electrical items in her shop, such as the refrigerator.
“This erratic electricity rationing has me worried about things at home and in the shop being damaged or not being able to be used for long. This adds to my losses as the shop cannot operate fully.
“I hope the Government can channel aid to affected traders,” she said.
Lahad Datu is one of the areas on the east coast of Sabah that has been affected by power outages since Saturday, when a transmission tower near Kampung Sarapung, Penampang, collapsed due to a landslide.
A check also found that the Tungku area is the worst hit when the power supply was cut for three days, and residents there only received electricity rationing since yesterday.
