Prepaid meter system to curb power theft in squatter areas, says Bung Moktar

KOTA KINABALU: A prepaid meter system to supply electricity in squatter areas, prone to power theft activities, will be introduced starting with a pilot project in Sandakan at the end of this month.

An independent power distributor (IPD), Village Support Services Sdn Bhd has been granted a 10-year IPD licence, allowing them to buy electricity in bulk from Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) and supplying them to the Kampung Forest pilot project.

Deputy Chief Minister cum state Works Minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin said this was one of the initiatives to curb illegal power connections in Sabah, when answering a question from Silam assemblyman Dumi Pg Masdal during the state assembly sitting on Wednesday (July 20).

"Previously when the squatters are not gazetted (as villages), utilities will not be provided there so of course as humans with needs, the community in the squatters resort to getting them illegally.

"So I think we have to give access to them, squatters or not, hence the proposed prepaid concept.

"It has been done in Europe not only for squatters but for common consumers ... So that’s why we have the pilot project first; it’s not only good for business but people are less likely to steal power if they have access and SESB can avoid losses.

"As for how much losses experienced from power theft in Sabah, I do not have the figure at present," he said answering an additional question from Tungku assemblyman Assaffal Alian if there was a study done on the cause of rampant power theft and losses suffered.

On Senallang assemblyman Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal’s additional question on the status of Sabah government taking over power management as agreed by the Federal Government in the past, Bung Moktar said this was also something they were working on.

"I am currently discussing with the federal and Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) side, Sabah government is in the efforts to take over SESB and transform it to a lucrative entity.

"This company suffered losses up to RM300mil and I don’t think any power utility company in the world made such losses, only in Sabah. So it is high time we make this happen.

"At the same time, SESB is still depending on 60% diesel as power source, while oversea nations have changed their resources to more sustainable and lucrative ones.

"Sabah must be brave in moving forward and explore other options in future. We must consider what brings more gains,” he said, adding that this was something that needed to be discussed with the state Cabinet.