SEB warns property owners not to DIY electrical wiring

MIRI: Owners of houses and buildings in the city have been reminded to acquire the services of licensed electricians, when it comes to installing the wiring system for their properties.

According to Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) safety officer Fabien Lee, a study reveals that faulty electrical wiring and equipment are the major cause of fires in 51 per cent of reported cases.

“Don’t do it (wiring system) yourself as it is dangerous – even if you think that you know the basic process and you do it to save cost. Wrongly installed wiring may cause overload of power and short- circuits. Engage only licensed electricians (to do the work),” he said during a briefing on Rural Electrification Scheme ( RES) and installation of wiring system to 43 residents of Tudan Desaras Resettlement Scheme near here yesterday.

On a related matter, Lee acknowledged that it was a common practice for the locals to plant trees such as coconuts around their compounds, but he also pointed out that once the trees grew high and the branches got too close to the electricity cables, this could cause power trips.

“In this respect, we advise you to plant the tree at least 4m away from any electricity pole,” he said.

Meanwhile, Assistant Minister for Land and Air Transportation and Safety Datuk Lee Kim Shin announced the commencement of installation of internal electricity wiring system for 43 resettlers yesterday.

“The government is subsidising the cost (on installation) to ease the burden of the resettlers – each of them paying RM1,200 in instalments over three years,” said Lee, who together with SEB assured the 64 remaining resettlers that they would be included under the second phase of the RES.

Installation contractor Hajis Libau also assured the resettlers that the project would be completed in two months. However, he asked the house owners to make their lot numbers more visible because they had difficulties locating some of the houses.