Akmal (second from right), observing students carrying out an electrical wiring inspection in Kampung Utara, Padang Besar, Perlis.
UNIVERSITI Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) continues its drive to empower community well‑being through Programme Cahaya Prihatin: Electricity for the Community, at Kampung Utara, Padang Besar in Perlis.
The initiative is in collaboration with Malaysia Energy Literacy Programme (MELP) and through a strategic partnership with Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) and Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry (Petra).
According to a TNB statement, this was also designed as a catalyst for the transfer of knowledge and technology, benefitting communities nationwide in phases over the coming years.
The programme, focused on energy literacy and electrical safety, particularly among local communities, was implemented following UniMAP’s selection as one of the eight public higher education institutions appointed to deliver MELP programmes and courses.
UniMAP subsequently became the first university in Malaysia to implement the Service Learning Malaysia – University for Society (Sulam) approach under this initiative.
Since its establishment by TNB in 2020, MELP has been strengthened through the formation of a national‑level steering committee, chaired by then Petra Deputy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, as well as a working committee in 2024.
The launch of melp.my as an online platform further expanded and enhanced the delivery of energy literacy more broadly and effectively, supporting MELP’s strategic target of achieving 90% energy literacy among Malaysians, added TNB.
The implementation of this initiative is driven through the course EMK41003 Technologists in Society, involving two academic programmes under the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Technology: Industrial Power Engineering Technology, and Robotics and Automation Engineering Technology.
For programme Cahaya Prihatin, TNB is committed to strengthening energy safety within the community, including providing the necessary support for inspection and repair works for electrical wiring in the homes of asnaf families.
As the nation’s leader in energy transition, TNB continued to support energy literacy aspirations through MELP to ensure energy safety, efficiency and sustainability became common practices within society.
This approach not only raised awareness but also fostered behavioural change through the adoption of safe energy practices and renewable energy technologies, in line with TNB’s commitment to the National Energy Transition agenda and the Net Zero 2050 target.
Through this programme, TNB also demonstrates that energy transition is not solely a technological agenda, but one that required community support through continuous education and readiness to adopt more sustainable lifestyles.
Initiatives such as this reflected TNB’s commitment to making the energy transition agenda inclusive and people‑centric.
Through this programme, local communities were also exposed to the safe, efficient and prudent use of electricity, alongside the implementation of electrical safety inspections in residential homes.
Community members were further given opportunities to access technical expertise and technology from UniMAP, while strengthening collaborative networks between the university, industry and the community.
The programme served as a example of the university-industry-community ecosystem approach that underpins UniMAP’s efforts in delivering knowledge transfer and empowering community well‑being.
The closing ceremony was launched by Akmal, in the presence of ministry and industry leaders, including Petra deputy secretary‑general Mareena Mahpudz, as well as the TNB management team and UniMAP vice‑chancellor Datuk Prof Dr Zaliman Sauli.
