Power Cuts in Sabah? Boring!

Power cuts in Sabah again? Isn't that old news? The electricity problem in Sabah has been getting so serious that Sabahans are getting 'sensitized' to the fact that powercuts are just part and parcel of life in what was once the richest state in Malaysia after Selangor.

I remember in 1994 when the BN was shouting around their slogan Sabah Baru! where poverty was to be eradicated in 15 years and powercuts will be a thing of the past. Now in 2008, we have still not seen any major improvements. And by major improvements I mean no more power cuts! I have been in Australia for three years to do my degree in Melbourne University and I have never ever experienced a power cut except for once when they had to fix up the fire alarm system in the apartment I was staying in. If Sabah can achieve that, then it will truly be a Sabah Baru.

So why is Sabah facing so many power failures? Who is responsible?

Here's one example of the causes of power failures (taken from Daily Express):

Power Thefts in Sandakan Rampant

Sandakan: District Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) Manager Madeline Chu regretted that power theft had been rampant in the municipality, despite regular surveillance by her personnel.

She said the "phenomenon" had been a regular feature in the squatter colonies dominated by foreigners and illegal immigrants.

She hoped that the relevant authorities would take firm action to curb illegal connections of power lines, by providing power the legal way to avoid such activity.

Chu was responding to numerous complaints by local residents of power theft activities in the Sedco industrial area, Mile 3, which they said had become increasingly rampant.

Obviously, the culprits, said to be illegal immigrants, took no heed of the action by SESB personnel in disconnecting illegal supplies and connections in the squatter areas, she said.

She warned that the thieves might not be aware that they could be electrocuted when come in contact with the wrong wires.

So here's another one of the reason why Sabahans strongly reject giving these illegal immigrants permanent residency and citizenship! If the Americans and the human rights groups wanna talk, they can gladly take them all in. Sabah does not need these illegal immigrants. It's a different story if they come as legal workers, pay tax, pay for water and other facilities, pay for education etc. As of now, Sabah does not have enough healthcare and education facilities to cater for true Sabahans what more share with these illegal immigrants.

Anyway, back to the topic of electricity and other facilities, my message to the Government of Sabah is this. We don't need dictators like Dr. M to bring progress to Sabah. What we need are leaders who are willing to go that extra mile to provide and mantain the basics of civil society such as clean water supply, power supply, good roads and transportation system, good and established healthcare and education, rule of law..and with meritocracy, the rest will come on the back of highly motivated and educated Sabahans.