KOTA KINABALU: Generators are flying off the shelves in Tawau, Sabah’s east coast district, as residents scramble to cope with blackouts following the collapse of a transmission tower several days ago.
Households have been rushing to hardware shops for the portable machines to keep their homes lit, charge phones and run basic appliances.
For trader Sahran Mankati, the blackout has made daily life almost unbearable.
Sahran said his family was left in darkness, with no lights and no fans to keep mosquitoes away.
“We have no choice but to buy a generator just to survive at home,” he said.
Others shared similar frustrations.
Abd Rahman Sawabsah said the constant outages were pushing families to the edge.
He said the power supply would only return for a few hours before being cut again, making it impossible to charge phones or even sleep comfortably.
“Without electricity, we’re forced to light candles just to use the bathroom,” Abd Rahman said.
The rush has also been fuelled by worries over food spoilage.
Patrick Chang, who managed to get a generator, said residents were rushing for the machines to save perishable goods.
“The shop that I went to is already out of stock,” he said.
Retailers said demand is unlike anything they have seen before.
Win Hin Machinery Tawau Sdn Bhd shop owner Mandy Chin said sales had skyrocketed.
“On normal days, we would sell one or two, but in just a day and a half, we sold about 120 generators. The 3,000-watt models are the most popular – they can power lights, fans and even a small air conditioner,” she said.
The power disruption dragged on for five days, with some districts experiencing blackouts lasting up to 20 hours a day.
Power was restored on Wednesday night, but that has not stopped residents from buying generators in case of another power failure.
