RM20mil lost annually to power theft by squatters, says Sabah Electricity

An SESB worker cutting off illegal power connections at Kampung Numbak.

KOTA KINABALU: Utility company Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) is losing some RM20mil a year due to illegal electricity connections in Sabah and Labuan.

SESB general manager (distribution) Addie Ahmad said illegal connections had also caused about one in four cases of electricity disruption in the state and Labuan.

He said there were 193 squatter colonies with an estimated 31,000 houses in Sabah and Labuan obtaining power illegally.

"That is why we are carrying out an integrated operation to eradicate illegal power connections in Kampung Numbak, one of the squatter colonies identified," he said on Thursday (Feb 16).

He added that at least 1,000 houses in the colony, located in the outskirts of the city, were sourcing power illegally.

"The operation is not only to ensure SESB does not incur more losses but also to ensure safety as the illegal connections involve wiring that do not meet required standards," Addie said, adding that this was a fire risk.

"Based on our records since 2016, there have been seven fatalities involving the public (due to electrocution)," he said.

Addie said their efforts met with some challenges that range from having to walk on rickety wooden bridges to squatters trying to stop SESB personnel from doing their job.

On the application for power connections, he said, there were several factors SESB had to consider such as valid identification documents, land status and land topography, among others, before giving approval.

He said they had to turn down many applications from Kampung Numbak residents as applicants did not have proof of citizenship and that their houses were sitting on government reserve land.

He added the houses were also too close to each other and many were poorly constructed.

To resolve the issue, Addie said SESB has undertaken a pilot project by appointing an independent power distributor to supply electricity to squatter settlements.

This was done on a prepaid concept and is currently being implemented in Kampung Forest in the Sandakan district.