Kota Kinabalu: State Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Phoong Jiin Zhe said SESB should have anticipated the overload in electricity demand which caused power disruptions in several areas lately.
Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd is capable of responding positively to the power shortage problem, he said, after visiting a SESB control centre.
Phoong said he found out that they (SESB) have the means to do so. “I saw that the control centre could monitor the real time energy supply status, which means that they can anticipate if an overload is likely to occur.
“So why should they wait until the maximum energy capacity level is reached, the power trips, and the whole city experiences a blackout?
SPONSORED CONTENT Firefly’s inaugural flight to Sandakan SANDAKAN: Firefly, the low-cost carrier subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines; made its inaugural flight from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan on Tuesday. Read more “They cannot wait until it is at maximum capacity before doing something as load shedding will automatically occur by then,” Phoong said.
“SESB should have carried out manual load shedding and ensure important places such as the airport are unaffected.”
Phoong said the constant electricity cuts give a very bad image to tourists and dampens confidence of investors.
He also questioned the delay in repairing the damage at the Tenom Pangin hydroelectric dam caused by floods last year.
He said restoring the dam which was damaged last year, would help alleviate the current electricity woes.
In SANDAKAN, Batu Sapi MP Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan urged Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd to solve the electricity supply problem in Kg Bogaya and Kg Sundang here, immediately, saying it seems like SESB is just not bothered.
“The people in these two villages are stressed by the electricity supply issue that keeps happening. The solution has not been seen until now,” he said.
The State Tourism, Arts and Culture Deputy Minister said SESB should be more responsible and respond to people’s complaints.
“This problem disrupts the daily routine of citizens, traders, students and workers. If this happens too often, it will definitely put pressure on everyone,” he said.
He said he informed SESB but the response was very disappointing.
“The problems in Kg Bogaya and Kg Sundang in Batu Sapi have not been tended to, as if my people’s voice and problems have no effect or impact.
“If my voice as MP is taken for granted by the SESB, imagine if ordinary people go back and forth to complain?”
“This problem has been going on for decades but it is getting worse now, and it is more disappointing because all the complaints are taken for granted,” he said.
“Politicians serve to bring the voice of the people. The people’s problems are the priority of the people’s representatives, which our main duty is to solve.”
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