SEB: Vandalism caused hour-long blackout at Rock Road last Friday
KUCHING: An act of vandalism on a high-voltage cable led to an hour long power outage hitting areas along the Rock Road here late Friday (Jan 26), and affecting crucial facilities including Timberland Medical Centre and the China Consulate building.
Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB), in a statement, said upon receiving the outage report, its operations and retail arm Syarikat Sesco Bhd (Sesco) mobilised its technical team immediately and discovered a vandalised highvoltage cable near the drain crossing opposite Timberland Medical Centre.
“Evidence of the vandalism included a cable cut with tools and other items left at the site.
“A police report has been lodged, and Sesco has intensified security patrols within the area to prevent further incidents,” it said.
Sesco chief executive officer Lau Kim Swee, who expressed disappointment over such an irresponsible act of vandalism, emphasised the severity of copper theft, which had caused inconvenience to those affected.
“We have been working very hard to raise public awareness of the dangers of tampering with live electrical installations and the unfortunate instances of electrocution fatalities reported in the past.
“Unfortunately, even though we have spent millions to strengthen our facilities, vandalism still occurs today, showing that some individuals are willing to endanger their lives for financial gain,” he said.
Lau pointed out that Sesco recorded 153 cases of vandalism throughout Sarawak last year, of which 25 cases were in Kuching.
“These incidents resulted in a loss of almost RM3 million, excluding the intangible losses such as the inconvenience and potential business disruption experienced by the public during the power outages,” said Lau.
Beyond inconveniences, the public must understand that proximity to live electrical facilities could pose the risk of severe injuries, including electrocution, burns, and potential loss of life, he reminded.
In the statement, SEB said it was proactively engaging with communities and the media to educate the public about the dangers of vandalism.
Addressing concerns on vandalism, it said it was increasing the frequency of night patrols, especially during the upcoming festive season, and implementing remote sensors for rapid detection.
“We are actively investing in modern technology, backup supply, and infrastructure to enhance the efficiency and reliability of its power system.
“Furthermore, our technical teams are on high alert and standby round the clock, prepared for immediate restoration during both minor and major outages,” said the utility company.
The SEB, in close collaboration with the authorities, is conducting joint operations, including inspections of recycling centres and monitoring the trade of stolen copper cables.
The public is encouraged to report suspicious activities to SEB’s 24-hour customer care centre by calling 1-300-88-3111 or sending emails to customercare@ sarawakenergy.com, with the assurance of utmost confidentiality.