KOTA KINABALU: Despite having hydroelectric power plants in his constituency, Datuk Rubin Balang (Gagasan-Kemabong) has expressed his frustration over the frequent power outages that continue to disrupt daily life.
"Although we have these power plants, the electricity supply remains insufficient, causing disruptions, especially during critical times like funerals, official events, and weddings," he said during the state assembly sitting here, yesterday.
While acknowledging the improvements in service quality under the current CEO of Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) and noting visible progress, he said that occasional blackouts still occurred in certain areas.
"For example, a recent blackout in Kemabong Town was reported to me," he added.
Turning to the issue of water supply, Rubin called on the Water Department to expedite the construction of a new water treatment plant to meet the needs of the Kemabong and Tenom districts.
"Water supply has long been a major issue for the community, who have been waiting for clean and sufficient water for years," he said.
"During recent discussions with the consultants, we stressed that the treatment plant must serve the entire community's needs. We also insisted that the water source be drawn from less polluted rivers as the water in Tenom Town — particularly in eateries — is among the dirtiest in Malaysia."
Meanwhile, Datuk Ewon Benedick (Upko-Kadamaian) said that Sabah government should prioritise the acquisition of Sabah Electricity, following the transfer of regulatory powers over energy and gas to the state.
"With its significant revenue-generating potential, I believe the Sabah government should plan to fully acquire the shares owned by Tenaga Nasional in Sabah Electricity
"This would allow Sabah to take control of its own power plants, instead of relying on energy purchased from Independent Power Producers (IPPs)," he said.