Latest news with #SabahElectricity
Daily Express
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Express
Ensuring electricity for all: Chief Minister
Published on: Friday, June 27, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jun 27, 2025 Text Size: Hajiji (centre) witnessing the exchange of MoU documents between ECoS and UPPM. Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (Sabah Electricity) and the State Community Development Leaders Unit (UPPM) on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to ensure electricity supply can be channelled to all corners of the State. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the one-year MoU is in line with the role of Community Development Leaders (PPM) in delivering the best services to the people in their respective areas. 'This effort complements the State Government's initiative to ensure that the people in the State, especially in rural and interior areas, have access to electricity supply,' he said in a statement after witnessing the MoU signing at Menara Kinabalu. Sabah Electricity was represented by its Chief Executive Officer Datuk Mohd Yaakob Jaafar, while UPPM Sabah was represented by its Director Datuk Awang Kadin Tang. Also present were State Secretary Datuk Safar Untong and State Attorney General Datuk Brenndon Keith Soh. Hajiji said through the collaboration, Sabah Electricity and UPPM Sabah will be able to increase electricity supply connectivity, especially in areas that have not been covered, develop sustainable energy infrastructure and increase awareness among the people about Sabah Electricity's services and functions, including efficient energy use. 'This strategic collaboration between Sabah Electricity and UPPM Sabah will be the focal point for all matters related to Sabah Electricity services, as well as opening up job opportunities for the people of Sabah,' he said. Meanwhile, the Energy Commission of Sabah (ECoS) continued its outreach efforts by organising an Electrical Energy Consumer Awareness Programme in Kudat, targeting community leaders from the Mukim Dualog and Tiga Papan areas. According to ECos COO, Ir. Ts. Ridwan Saham, the initiative aims to strengthen public awareness, particularly in rural areas, about electrical safety and efficient energy use, while also introducing the role of ECoS in regulating electricity supply and renewable energy in the State. He stressed the importance of using certified electrical appliances bearing safety labels such as ECoS-SIRIM, SIRIM-ST or SIRIM-MUT, to ensure consumer safety. This programme follows similar initiatives conducted in other districts, including Ranau, Keningau and Kota Belud. ECoS hopes the information shared during these sessions will be relayed by community leaders to their respective villages, thereby promoting safer and more efficient energy practices. The event, officiated by Kudat District Officer, Charles William Dabbi, included sessions on electrical safety, energy efficiency, compliance with the newly enforced Electricity Supply Enactment 2024, and an introduction to performance standards set by ECoS for Sabah Electricity, namely, the Guaranteed Service Level (GSL) and Minimum Service Level (MSL). In his speech, Charles highlighted the importance of community leaders staying informed and described the programme as a valuable opportunity to enhance their knowledge. He commended ECoS for its grassroots efforts and encouraged all participants to engage fully in the sessions and pass on the information to their local communities. * 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
Daily Express
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Express
Madius signs off as Sabah Electricity chairman after two-year tenure
Published on: Thursday, June 26, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jun 26, 2025 Text Size: KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau ( pic ) concluded his tenure as Sabah Electricity Chairman on June 16, two years after his appointment. He said his decision to accept the post was driven by a desire to serve Sabah and Labuan, despite warnings from peers that it would be politically damaging due to widespread public dissatisfaction with electricity issues. During his tenure, Madius introduced reforms including community dialogues across Sabah, launched a pilot smart meter project, and oversaw efforts to reduce the System Average Interruption Duration Index (Saidi) from 1,000 minutes in 2012 to 220 minutes in 2024. He highlighted Sabah Electricity's financial sustainability challenges, noting its dependence on federal subsidies, and advocated for structural energy reforms such as the Bess project in Lahad Datu and broader grid connectivity. In his farewell message, recently posted on his Facebook, Madius urged continued public support for Sabah Electricity, warning against repeated opposition to critical energy infrastructure that could hinder future supply security. * 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
4 days ago
- Business
- Barnama
Sabah Electricity, UPPM Sign MoU To Ensure Access To Electricity Supply In All Areas
KOTA KINABALU, June 26 (Bernama) -- Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (Sabah Electricity) and the State Community Development Leaders Unit (UPPM) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to ensure electricity supply can be channelled to all corners of the state. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the one-year MoU is in line with the role of Community Development Leaders (PPM) in delivering the best services to the people in their respective areas. 'This effort complements the state government's initiative to ensure that the people in the state, especially in rural and interior areas, have access to an electricity supply,' he said in a statement after witnessing the MoU signing at Menara Kinabalu today.
The Star
4 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Tangau steps down as Sabah Electricity chairman after term ends
KOTA KINABALU: Former federal minister Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau has ended his tenure as chairman of Sabah Electricity (SE), following the conclusion of his contract on June 16. "To all friends, June 16, 2025, was my last day as chairman of Sabah Electricity. This means today is the eighth day I am no longer chairman," he confirmed in a Facebook post on Monday (June 23), noting that his contract was not renewed. Tangau, also a former Deputy Chief Minister of Sabah, served as SE chairman since 2023 and expressed gratitude for the opportunity, thanking the federal and state governments for their trust during his tenure. In a detailed post, Tangau explained his decision to take on the challenge despite warnings, acknowledging that SE, rebranded under his leadership from Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB), had long been viewed as problematic. "Many told me to stay away from (then) SESB, saying it could destroy my political career. But I accepted the post, not for prestige, but as a responsibility to the people of Sabah and Labuan who have long suffered from electricity issues," he wrote. During his two-year tenure, Tangau implemented reforms to enhance integrity, transparency, and service delivery, including initiatives that led SE to receive the MS ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management System certification, making it one of only three GLCs in Sabah to achieve this standard. He also highlighted technological advancements such as the implementation of smart meters, the introduction of self-meter reading (SMR) in rural areas like Kiulu, and other digitisation efforts aimed at reducing billing complaints. Another significant achievement under his leadership was the reduction of the System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) from 1,000 minutes in 2012 to 220 minutes in 2024, with some areas reaching single-digit figures. "Still, I must be honest, Sabah remains at risk. Our power generation reserve margin is below 12%, when it should be at least 30%," he warned, cautioning that the state could face rationing or blackouts if urgent measures are not taken. Tangau, who is the Tuaran MP and former United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) president, recently launched the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project in Lahad Datu, touted as the largest in Southeast Asia, with a 100MW capacity designed to stabilise electricity supply on the east coast. 'We also successfully signed a Gas Sales Agreement (GSA) with PETRONAS on June 30, 2024. The development of another new Gas Power Plant with a capacity of 120MW under a tripartite cooperation involving Sabah Electricity, PETRONAS, and Sabah Energy Corporation (SEC). Also, the restoration of the Tenom Pangi Hydro Power Station's operation in May 2025 after nearly three years of non-operation,' he pointed out. Tangau noted that the company's rebranding was necessary to meet the government's goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. 'This is also a sign of the company's commitment to greener, more sustainable, and environmentally friendly energy sources,' he said. He apologised to SE staff for his frequent calls and surprise visits, sometimes on weekends and late at night. 'I appreciate all your dedication. That is why I fought for workers' rights in the last Board Meeting I chaired. I hope this is not the end of all our efforts. Continue to work hard; this is a continuous struggle with no end. 'However, I would like to invite all parties to place their trust in our staff and the company. They have the capability. What they lack is simply trust,' he wrote. He also advised the public not to repeat the cycle of objections that had previously stalled key infrastructure projects, including the Kaiduan and Liwagu dams, as well as the proposed 300MW coal power plant. 'These objections have ultimately led to the electricity shortages we are experiencing today. Let us not repeat past mistakes,' he advised. Quoting a familiar proverb, he added, 'It takes a village to raise a child.' In the same spirit, he said, 'Sabah Electricity needs the support and involvement of all stakeholders, from leaders to users, to work together in securing long-term solutions and stability for Sabah and the Federal Territory of Labuan.' He ended his post thanking Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the Finance Minister for entrusting him to lead SE, as well as Tenaga Nasional Berhad chairman Tan Sri Abdul Razak Majid, his deputy chairman, Board of Directors members, chief executive officer, senior management officers, SE staff, and stakeholders. 'I'm signing off,' he wrote.
The Star
6 days ago
- Business
- The Star
No 'hidden' power tariff hikes, says Sabah Energy Commission
KOTA KINABALU: There are no hidden increases in electricity charges in Sabah, says the Energy Commission of Sabah (ECoS). In a statement on Tuesday (June 24), ECoS stressed that the tariff structure and rates have not been revised since the last revision in 2014. It also said the tariff structure and rate schedule for Sabah and Labuan, effective since Jan 1, 2014, can be obtained from Sabah Electricity's website. Its statement came after Parti Warisan's Kota Kinabalu division information chief Samuel Wong claimed that there were hidden increases in electricity tariffs through the tiered rate structure. 'Consumers are assured that they will only be charged the rate of 47 sen per kilowatt-hour for consumption above 1,000 units, meaning monthly bills above RM383. This has been in effect since Jan 1, 2014,' ECoS said. ALSO READ: Warisan urges explanation of 'hidden' tariff hikes in Sabah It said that Wong or any concerned citizen may present any unusual bills that do not follow gazetted tariff blocks and rates to ECoS for investigation. 'If there is any error or negligence on the part of Sabah Electricity, ECoS will investigate and rectify accordingly. 'In the interests of transparency and accountability, ECoS encourages the public to use its official complaints and clarification platform, Talk2ECoS, especially in cases where consumers are unable to receive adequate responses from licensees such as Sabah Electricity,' it added. ECoS said it was committed to safeguarding consumer rights and ensuring fair electricity pricing, while continuing to support efforts that strengthen the reliability and sustainability of Sabah's power supply. Earlier, Wong called on the government to address what he claimed were hidden tariff hikes in Sabah through a quietly restructured tiered billing system. He said that although the state recently announced a six-month waiver of the electricity surcharge under the Imbalance Cost Pass-Through (ICPT) mechanism, Sabahans were still experiencing rising bills because of a more complicated and punishing tier structure. He said while the government said there was no surcharge, consumer bills told a different story via subtle changes to how electricity usage was charged, calling it a disguised price hike. Wong said that in 2022, there were five usage tiers ranging from RM0.175 to RM0.450 per 100 units but by this year, the structure expanded to seven tiers, with a new highest rate of RM0.470 per 100 units.
