Power-sharing of a different kind

Borneo Post

21-06-2025

For Malaysia, the cross-border power-sharing is a meaningful contribution to the APG scheme itself, which aims to build an electricity grid link with almost all the member countries of Asean. — Bernama photo
SHOULD the Republic of the Philippines need extra electricity for its industries and private homes and cannot get it elsewhere, it can turn to Sarawak.
Within minutes, through the renewable energy grid, the Asean Power Grid (APG), electricity could be transmitted to the Southern Philippines through Sabah.
I take it that Sarawak has no problem with the federal government in this cross-border transaction.
After all, we are selling power to the Indonesians too in a similar fashion.
In December of last year, the Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) began selling green energy to Singapore.
So you say that Malaysia, both the West and the East, is a good source of electricity for the neighbours.
Here is a good chance for Malaysia as the Asean Chair to play the role of a good promoter of product as well as act as salesman.
Should there be any problem with any member of Asean with regard to the project, the Chair would be able to display tact and ingenuity to ensure that this, being an Asean project, has to proceed.
Once the vendor and the buyer agree upon the terms of purchase that it is a deal, no second, third or fourth opinion needed.
For Malaysia, this a meaningful contribution to the APG scheme itself, which aims to build an electricity grid link with almost all the member countries of Asean.
Let's start with Malaysia. The electricity is actually from Sarawak, but never mind the saying 'lembu punya susu, sapi punya nama' (the milk is from the cow, but the buffalo gets the name).
Somehow my gut feeling is that this energy grid, going through the territory of Sabah, may meet with some political problems.
I'm thinking about the Philippines' claim to Sabah.
I am confident that this was on the mind of the Prime Minister before he popped the suggestion, and he was confident that it would not stand in the way because this would be an Asean project.
It is crucial that the Chair of Asean will be supported by the other member countries.
Malaysia must make a mark during its term of office.
'Good personal relationship matters'
I am told that our Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has a good personal relationship with the President of the Republic of the Philippines. That relationship is crucial when it comes to tackling a problem relating to an economic scheme that benefits both parties.
This electricity grid is one such scheme.
This is a sensible suggestion from our Prime Minister. It is a practicable move that deserves full support by anyone thinking about what to do with excess electricity in Sarawak.
At this stage, there appears to be clear evidence of the existence of political will on the part of Malaysian leaders in terms of state-federal relations.
However, at this stage, we do not really know what the Philippines government thinks of the proposal.
The potential buyer of our electricity has not made known publicly its response or even interest in purchasing power from us.
I am sure there will be some response from President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr after he has received the report from his representative.
Give him and his colleagues time to think about the proposal by our PM in terms of the economic viability of the purchase of power, and to make decisions at their own speed.
Politics may have a role in this deal. My surmise.
I hope this would not derail the initial talks on the sale and purchase.
Treat the dealing like a normal sale and purchase of a product that the buyer needs and the vendor has the stock for disposal anytime – a business-like transaction.
Meanwhile, we should support PM Anwar's proposal if we have enough electricity supply for our own use and enough to sell overseas.
We are selling electricity to Indonesia anyway. Is there enough of the product for another buyer?
As regards the sale of power to Kalimantan, my sources say that the time may come when the demand will be reduced or even stopped altogether once the Indonesians have built a hydro-power dam across the upper reaches of the River Mahakam.
The power generation from that dam will serve the needs of the new capital Nusantara, and the districts along the coast including the city of Samarinda itself.
There are several rivers in that part of Borneo that may be dammed for hydropower generation.
In 1989, I was in the Sarawak team as a delegate attending the post-Asean Conference on Land Settlement Conference held in Samarinda.
I joined a team who rode a Russian double-decker helicopter flying over the great Mahakam; we were being flown to a settlement of Kenyah and Kayan at Datah Bilang.
It was an eye-opener.
The river, if dammed, would generate an enormous amount of electricity for the entire region.
The electricity supply from Sarawak could be affected if the Indonesians could produce enough electricity from their own dams, unless the APG steps in to enable the grid to provide the link to continue.
An economic question.
Between good neighbours, sharing of electrical power would be mutually beneficial on a commercial basis.
It makes good economic sense.
The other power (political) is not for sale, though!
* The opinions expressed in this article are the columnist's own and do not reflect the view of the newspaper. Asean power grid malaysia Philippines