Kota Kinabalu: Parti Solidariti Tanahairku (Sabah Star) fully supports the state’s takeover of electricity supply regulatory control to address frequent power disruptions.
Its Secretary-General II, Rizal Johari, expressed hope that the move will end the long-standing issue of power disruptions in Sabah.
“We experienced one of the worst periods of power disruptions across the state recently (but) this is not something new,” he said.
Stable and reliable electricity was crucial for development and attracting investors, who require assurance of affordable and consistent power supply for their businesses, he said.
SPONSORED CONTENT Shell’s Access to Energy helps power lives of isolated communities in Sabah Kota Kinabalu: In 2017, Sabah Shell Petroleum Co Ltd (SSPC) launched Access to Energy (A2E), a Shell Social Investment programme aimed at providing affordable and continuous supply of electricity from renewable sources for communities who live without connection to the electricity grid. Read more Addressing the electricity problem was vital for improving Sabah’s economic situation and lifting it out of poverty, said Rizal.
He said this in response to a recent announcement by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor that the prime minister has given approval for Sabah to take over regulatory control of its power supply on Jan 1, 2024.
Rizal said even though the electricity problem in Sabah was a legacy issue, the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) state government led by Hajiji has taken concrete action to overcome it.
He said the government understands the importance of having reliable and sustainable power to bring developments to the state, therefore it is crucial to take control of the power supply.
Rizal, who is also the private secretary to Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, expressed confidence in the Sabah Maju Jaya development roadmap, adding that he believed it will have a tangible impact on the lives of Sabahans.
A briefing session on the takeover will be held on June 15 for Sabah members of parliament, Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd and the state government.
Rizal said he was looking forward to favourable outcomes after the briefing session.
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