Kota Kinabalu: An adequate, stable, affordable and reliable energy supply is one of the key foundations of Sabah’s development, said Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.
He said energy was a driver of economic growth, industrial development, investment inflows, job creation and improved living standards.
“When we discuss Sabah’s development, the energy sector is one of the foundations that must be given priority.
“A sufficient, stable, affordable and reliable energy supply is a driver of economic growth, industrial development, investment inflows, job creation and improved living standards,” he said when officiating the 2026 Energy Commission of Sabah (ECoS) Media Engagement Session at Shangri-La Tanjung Aru here on Monday.
Joniston said the State’s progress should not be measured solely by physical development, but also by its ability to provide quality basic infrastructure to all its people.
He said the State Government aimed to develop Sabah into a progressive, prosperous and competitive State, with development benefiting people fairly in urban, rural and interior areas.
“We need to ensure that energy development helps reduce the gap between urban and rural areas. Access to quality energy can create economic opportunities and improve people’s living standards,” he said.
He said Sabah’s assumption of regulatory powers over the energy sector was an important step in strengthening the State’s ability to determine the sector’s direction based on Sabah’s needs and priorities.
Sabah assumed regulatory powers over the supply of onshore gas on Jan 10, 2023, followed by electricity supply and renewable energy on Jan 3, 2024.
As such, he said the public needed to have a clear understanding of ECoS’ role as the energy regulatory body in Sabah.
“ECoS’ responsibilities cover safety, compliance, consumer protection and renewable energy development, as well as ensuring that the energy sector in Sabah develops in an orderly, sustainable and resilient manner,” he said.
Joniston said ECoS also had an important role in creating a clear and trusted regulatory environment, thereby supporting private-sector participation and attracting investment in energy infrastructure and technology.
He said the regulatory approach should always balance the needs of the people, industry capabilities, environmental sustainability, technological advancement and the State’s development direction.
Meanwhile, Joniston said Sabah had significant potential in renewable energy, including solar, hydro and other sources that could be developed in a planned and responsible manner.
However, he said the energy transition needed to be implemented carefully, taking into account people’s affordability, infrastructure readiness, industrial needs and Sabah’s development realities.
“Our aim is not merely to increase the use of renewable energy, but to develop a strong, efficient and resilient energy system to support the State’s long-term growth,” he said.
He said initiatives such as Solar Rakyat Sabah and the Sabah Energy Efficiency Action Plan (Seeap), launched by ECoS in July this year, were important steps towards achieving this goal.
He said the programmes provided opportunities for the public and business sector to participate in the State’s energy agenda, manage energy consumption more efficiently and benefit from renewable energy development.
Joniston also stressed the importance of a strong relationship between ECoS and the media in ensuring that information on the energy sector was conveyed accurately and comprehensively to the public.
As a former journalist, he said the media played an important role not only in reporting developments, but also in helping the public understand government policies, decisions and actions, as well as their impact on people’s lives.
“The relationship between ECoS and the media must be strengthened based on openness, professionalism, trust and a sense of responsibility towards the public interest,” he said.
He expressed his appreciation for ECoS’ cooperation in providing information openly and responsively, and hoped the cooperation would continue, while the media would continue to ensure that every report was based on accurate facts and context.
He said openness in providing information not only helped the media produce accurate and balanced reports, but could also reduce confusion and the spread of inaccurate information, particularly when dealing with issues or disruptions requiring immediate clarification.
Joniston hoped the ECoS Media Engagement Session would not end as a one-day programme, but would instead serve as the foundation for an ongoing relationship between both parties.
“I want the media to regard ECoS as an authoritative, transparent and accessible source of information.
“At the same time, ECoS should regard the media as a strategic partner in communicating policies, initiatives and explanations to the public, as well as conveying public sentiment and feedback to the Government’s attention,” he said.
He said efforts to ensure Sabah had a safe, stable, affordable, sustainable and resilient energy sector could not be undertaken by the Government and ECoS alone.
Instead, he said it required the cooperation of all parties, including industry players, academic institutions, the community and the media.
Meanwhile, he urged media practitioners to follow and understand the presentations during the ECoS briefing, including asking questions to seek clarification on matters that were unclear or highly technical.
He said a good understanding would help the media translate complex energy-related issues into information that was clear, accurate and relevant to people’s daily lives.
ECoS Chief Executive Officer Datuk Ir Abdul Nasser Abdul Wahid delivered a briefing on ECoS’ role, direction and initiatives during the session.
