Private companies supplying electricity to squatters urged to register

TAWAU: Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) has indicated that private companies are welcome to register with Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) for an independent power distributor (IPD) licence to supply electricity to the squatters settlement as part of the short term solution to curb electricity theft.

SESB South zone (Tawau) manager, Sabaruddin Akibe, is encouraging interested private companies to register and obtain an IPD licence from TNB to ‘bulk supply' electricity to squatters settlement in their respective area as a temporary measure to curb electricity theft, which is widespread in Tawau for a long time now.

He said this during a meeting with the political secretary to the Tawau MP, Fung Thin Yein, while inspecting an electricity theft prone area at Taman Jade, Mile 3, Apas road here (with about 200 squatter houses) yesterday morning together with the assistant secretary of the Tawau parliamentary office, Robert Penggai.

Sabaruddin said it has been difficult for SESB to completely curb the problem of electricity theft because these illegal users will reconnect the electricity supply on the same days after the SESB personnel has departed from the area.

As a long term solution, he suggested that the government build more poor people's housing (PPRT) to allocate to those possessing documents from among the squatters in effort to ensure ‘zero squatters' for Tawau, just like that at Sim-Sim in Sandakan.

Meanwhile, Fung said he is in agreement with SESB for more private companies to be encouraged to register and obtain an IPD license from TNB to supply electricity to the squatters settlement as part of effort to temporarily curb power thefts and that of water supply theft too.

As every squatters and everyone need electricity to survive every day, they could pay to the TNB licensed private company for the electricity supply rather than stealing it,” he said.

According to him, the village head could also coordinate with the private company and the squatters in respect of this temporary solution.

Fung also reminded private companies not to take the role of a ‘private SESB' in collecting money for illegal power supply without an IPD licence.

Sabaruddin briefing Fung (left) on the electricity theft problems during a visit to Taman Jade yesterday morning.

The illegal electricity supply installation at Taman Jade in Tawau.

Illegal electricity supply cables found in the drain.