KUNAK: Several traders at the Sedco building, here, resorted to using diesel-powered generators to keep their businesses running following prolonged power disruptions since Saturday and Sunday.
A Daily Express check in Kunak town found that retailers, electrical goods and accessories shops, as well as water filtration service providers, were relying on generators as an alternative power source.
“Although it does not last long, at least the genset helps us carry out repair work on electrical appliances,” said one accessories shop operator.
Supermarkets including Servay in Kunak town and Bataras at Maganting Plaza also switched to their own generators to continue operating, along with petrol stations.
Vehicle workshops, however, were forced to postpone maintenance jobs during the outage.
“We have to wait for power to be restored before using machines for heavy tyre work,” said a mechanic.
In several villages in the Madai Zone, including Kg Simpang Empat, Kg Lormalong, Kg Dasar Baru, Madai and surrounding areas, supply was cut for nine hours on Saturday, followed by 12-hour disruptions from 9am to 9pm on Sunday and Monday.
Internet services were also affected, disrupting daily activities and business operations in the affected areas.
Consumers hoped Sabah Electricity would deploy mobile generators in Kunak at strategic locations while restoration works on transmission towers are ongoing.
Netizens in Kunak also questioned why the district was not listed for mobile generator services in Sabah Electricity’s official Facebook update posted late Sunday.
Meanwhile, in LAHAD DATU, generator suppliers saw increased demand from consumers who could afford to buy the machines as prolonged outages disrupted daily routines.