A remote island's push for stable electricity
KOTA KINABALU: On Pulau Keniogan – a small island off the east coast of Sabah that is about an hour's boat ride from Beluran and two hours from Sandakan – the sound of generators has long been a part of the rhythm of daily life.
For years, the island's 1,200 residents made do with only 12 hours of electricity a day. Now, that has been extended to 18 hours – and Sabah Electricity is pushing ahead to achieve round-the-clock supply.
A newly installed, more efficient generator has replaced ageing diesel-powered units, allowing more stable supply for about 200 households.
Sabah Electricity chief operating officer Mohd Yusmanizam Mohd Yusof said the upgrade reflects the utility's commitment to ensure that rural and island communities are not left behind.
'We believe everyone in Sabah deserves access to the best utility services, regardless of where they live,' he said.
'At Pulau Keniogan, we've installed a new, more efficient generator to provide more reliable electricity and we are moving towards a full 24-hour supply.'
The island's remoteness has long made development difficult. With no road access, everything from fuel to basic supplies must be brought in by boat.
This is costly, time-consuming and weather-dependent.
Despite these limitations, Pulau Keniogan is a thriving community with a primary school, several kindergartens and a community clinic serving local healthcare needs.
Reliable electricity, residents say, is essential to keeping these basic facilities running smoothly.
Before the extension, electricity was only available from 6pm to 6am, forcing villagers to schedule their lives around the generator's limited hours. There was no power during the day – even as the tropical heat soared.
Lokman Madlis, who serves as the community development leader for the island, said the improvement has already made a visible difference.
'We're thankful the hours have increased, but we're really hoping for 24 hours soon,' he said.
'People in the city take it for granted – things like running a fridge, using a fan, watching TV. We want to enjoy the same comfort.'
Beluran is among the country's poorest districts. It is ranked as one of the eight poorest in Sabah and among the 10 poorest in Malaysia, according to the 13th Malaysia Plan.
Meanwhile, village community leader Kamarzaman Marof said consistent electricity is crucial for the island's economy, especially fishermen who rely on freezers to preserve their catch.
'Our livelihoods depend on it. Without enough electricity, we can't keep fish and prawns fresh and that affects our income,' he said.
Many families go out to sea before dawn and return in the afternoon, only to scramble for limited freezer space before the power shuts off. 'Sometimes we have to throw away what we can't keep cold. It's heartbreaking when your hard work just goes to waste,' he added.
A solar hybrid project, once launched as a long-term solution, had stalled midway.
While villagers were initially hopeful when works began several years ago, the site has since been left idle.
Still, they have not given up. Some locals said they have heard plans to revive the project under a new contractor, and they're hoping the government will keep that promise.
'To us, electricity isn't a luxury – it's something that gives dignity,' Lokman said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Malay Mail
Infrastructuring volunteerism and empathy — Sadina Suffian
JULY 25 — When a flood hits, it is often not the uniformed officials who arrive first. It's the volunteers — teenagers with towels over their shoulders, students with stacks of packed meals, neighbours with fishing boats turned rescue crafts. In quiet corners of disaster zones, under bridges and inside school halls, you'll find them: the invisible hands that move faster than any formal system ever could. I've seen this too many times to call it coincidence. It is not a one-off act of kindness. It's a pattern. And like all patterns, it points to something deeper — a system that exists, but one that we've never truly invested in. As Malaysia prepares to table the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK-13), we're once again talking about infrastructure, digitalisation, resilience, and inclusion. But if we're serious about building a country that can withstand future shocks — whether economic, environmental or social — then we need to include something we've long overlooked: Empathy. As an infrastructure. The work of volunteers is often seen as meaningful but peripheral — something encouraged, but not yet fully embedded into how we plan for national resilience. To be fair, programmes like MyCorps (under KBS) and Yayasan Sukarelawan Siswa (YSS, under KPT) have created valuable pathways for youth participation. But they remain siloed within ministries and often limited in scale or continuity. What we still lack is a whole-of-nation approach — one that recognises volunteerism not just as commendable, but essential; not just as response, but as readiness. If we can build highways to connect towns, surely we can build structures that connect people with purpose. What's missing right now There is currently no centralised system for volunteer registration, coordination, or training in Malaysia. If you want to start a grassroots initiative or join one, you often rely on informal networks — WhatsApp groups, social media, word of mouth. While these channels work during peacetime, they falter in moments of crisis. Worse still, they exclude those without access to the right digital or social capital. Volunteers are often trained informally, if at all. Many youth-led movements are born from urgency, not long-term planning. They rise quickly — and burn out just as fast. There are no structured mentorships, few cross-sector collaborations, and even fewer mechanisms to sustain these efforts beyond the immediate moment. We don't ask enough: what happens after the flood? After the media leaves? After the final aid package is delivered? The next Malaysia Plan presents a golden opportunity. If RMK-13 is meant to prepare us for the uncertainties of the next five years, then we cannot afford to exclude volunteerism from the national blueprint. I propose three urgent shifts: 1. A national volunteer infrastructure plan. This includes a centralised, accessible platform to register, train, match, and deploy volunteers across causes and regions — a digital ecosystem as reliable as any government database. 2. Incentivise and recognise. Offer micro-credentials, university credits, even modest allowances for verified volunteer hours. Recognise volunteerism as part of formal learning and employment pathways. Make it easier for employers to value community work as real-world experience — because it is. 3. Cross-ministry integration. Volunteerism should not be parked under a single ministry. It should be embedded into the KPIs of multiple agencies — from Health and Education to NADMA and Local Government — so that collaboration becomes systemic, not ad hoc. This is not about turning volunteers into bureaucrats. It's about ensuring that their energy is not wasted. That the next time a crisis hits, they don't have to start from scratch. That care work — emotional, logistical, social — is finally seen as nation-building work. A more caring Malaysia starts here We already have the spirit. Anyone who has worked with Team Selangor or similar youth movements knows this: the will to serve is alive and well. But spirit alone is not enough. Not when it's unsupported. Not when it's unsustained. The truth is, we can't keep relying on people's goodwill while giving them so little in return. We say we want empowered citizens. We say we want young people to step up. But when they do, we give them applause — and little else. If RMK-13 can fund highways and smart grids and industrial parks, surely it can also invest in something far more human. A system that supports those who show up not because they're paid, but because they care. Empathy doesn't need to be the opposite of efficiency. In fact, when properly structured, it can be our most resilient form of infrastructure. Let's not waste another five years pretending otherwise. * The author is Treasurer of Bersih, and COO of Team Selangor. Team Selangor is an outfit under the YAB Menteri Besar's office focusing on youth empowerment and volunteerism. ** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail
Daily Express
25-06-2025
- Daily Express
New Papar sub-station, meters for Inanam: SE
Published on: Wednesday, June 25, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jun 25, 2025 By: Sidney Skinner Text Size: A new substation is coming up along this section of the access road to Kg Kawakahan. SABAH Electricity (SE) has begun building a new substation near a Papar village and is in the midst of processing applications for meters at some low-cost flats in Inanam. This action was prompted by feedback about the power irregularities in Kg Kawakahan, as well as the delay which some occupants of the 'Projek Perumahan Rakyat (PPR, People's Housing Project)' Kionsom had experienced in having a supply extended to their units. A Papar consumer was under the impression that her village might not be receiving enough electricity as her household appliances had not been operating at their maximum capacity for some time. An Inanam senior citizen, on the other hand, was dismayed to find that there was still no electricity in her flat, more than 10 days after she had applied for a supply. Both individuals provided Hotline with the pertinent details regarding their grievances, which were forwarded to the company. A SE spokesman said about 20 per cent of the substation had been completed so far, since construction got underway on May 19. Advertisement 'Barring any unforeseen circumstances, we tentatively hope to finish the remaining 80 per cent of the work by October 16,' he said. 'The nominal level of the voltage to our customers in Kg Kawakahan should increase to around 230volts, once the substation becomes operational.' He explained that a voltage drop was to blame for the electricity woes in this part of the district. 'The existing substation is located about 2.5 kilometres away from the village. It generates between 210V and 215V during the peak period of electricity usage He said the problems in Kg Kawakahan stemmed from the increasing development taking place around Papar. The spokesman said SE had been aware about the irregularities in the village since last year. 'We refurbished the existing transformer and, for a time, the situation seemed to stabilise. 'Later, we carried out a load-shedding exercise and even tried having new overhead lines put in place to service the village.' 'In January, our technicians changed the tapping points for some of these premises to a different phase.' He said each of these strategies did not provide its consumers with lasting improvements. Meanwhile, SE's effort to provide PPR Kionsom occupants with power was partly held up due to the management company's (MC's) failure to complete the 'tagging' at the cabinets prepared for the meters. A SE spokeswoman said the MC was informed that the 'tagging' was still outstanding a whole fortnight before the keys were handed out to the first group of tenants in the middle of June. 'Tagging involves applying labels, tags or seals to the cabinets for identification, security and proper management of the meters,' she said. 'The tags help prevent tampering, ensure accurate billing and facilitate meter maintenance.' She said the oversight involving the tagging was only addressed after some of those who received their keys began grousing about their failure to receive an electricity supply, let alone have meters installed for their units. 'Once the tagging was done, our technicians immediately went in to have meters put in place for those whose applications had been approved. 'In some cases, the processing of these applications was delayed because of incomplete documentation, including the failure to provide signed copies of the tenancy agreements.' A spokesman for DBKK Holdings Sdn Bhd, the MC for the flats, said a miscommunication between the firm and its appointed contractor was to blame for the hold up with the tagging. 'A check of our records shows that, as of June 18, keys had been given out for 43 units whose tenants had paid their deposits,' he said. 'To date, occupational certificates have been issued for about 400 units.' He said PPR Kionsom comprised 1000 units overall, with DBKK Holdings tentatively targeting completion of the remaining flats by August. DBKK Holdings Sdn Bhd is the corporate arm of City Hall. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Barnama
24-06-2025
- Barnama
Langom Research Station Reflects State Govt's Commitment To Biodiversity Conservation
LAHAD DATU, June 24 (Bernama) -- The opening of the Langom Control Centre and Research Station in the Danum Valley Conservation Area reflects the Sabah government's commitment to biodiversity conservation and research, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. He said the initiative by Yayasan Sabah, in collaboration with the State Forestry Department, was in line with efforts to create a conducive research environment while ensuring sustainable forest management. 'Therefore, I would like to reiterate the state government's full support for such conservation and research efforts. 'I sincerely hope the Federal Government will consider providing greater support, particularly through continued funding under the National Conservation Trust Fund for Natural Resources (NCTF) and in the upcoming 13th Malaysia Plan,' he said when officiating the centre here today. His speech text was read out by Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Shahelmey Yahya, who is also the State Public Works Minister. Hajiji said the establishment of the centre, through an allocation of RM5.6 million from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability under the 12th Malaysia Plan, was in line with the thrust of the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Development Plan, particularly in environmental conservation and sustainable development. He expressed confidence that with support from all parties, including the federal government, conservation areas such as the Danum Valley and the entire DaMaI Rainforest Landscape (comprising the Danum Valley, Maliau Basin and Imbak Canyon) would continue to be preserved as global biodiversity treasures and serve as premier centres for research, education and conservation in the country. He also commended Yayasan Sabah for its outstanding achievements in managing and preserving the Danum Valley Conservation Area and other similar sites, which have played a key role in protecting forest reserves while elevating Sabah's name on the international stage. Hajiji said the research station, established in the Ulu Segama-Malua Forest Reserve under the Sabah Forestry Department Management Committee and involving Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), is strategically located between the Innoprise Face the Future Project area and the Danum Valley Learning Centre.
