By Olivia Miwil
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah hopes the federal electricity tariff subsidy will be extended, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam.
He said Sabah remained dependent on independent power producers (IPPs) for electricity generation.
"Yes, I agree that the subsidy should continue. We will see how it goes. But electricity generation is not cheap.
"If Sabahans are prepared to pay more, then we can move towards (not depending on subsidies) faster.
"But if people are not able to and do not want tariffs to be increased, then this is how it will be," he told reporters after the Sabah Electricity safety programme at the Sabah International Convention Centre here.
On the 2027 Budget, which is scheduled to be tabled on Oct 9, the Works and Utilities Minister said he hoped an allocation for the next phase of the Southern Link project would be included.
"Part of the Southern Link has already proceeded. So, we hope the next part will be included in this Budget.
"But the Southern Link is not a one- or two-year programme," he said.
The 330km Southern Link transmission line stretches from Sipitang through Tenom to Kalabakan and Tawau.
Meanwhile, Sabah Electricity chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Yaakob Jaafar said 10 electrocution cases had been reported in the state this year.
"This year, we have had many accidents involving loss of life.
"The latest one that we saw involved one of our contractors, and before that, there were three police personnel involved in an electrical accident in Weston (Beaufort).
"Recently in Kudat, two goats were killed," he said.
The Energy Commission of Sabah (ECoS) also reported 67 cases of illegal electricity connections in Sabah this year, with 17 compounded, 19 resulting in fines and six in jail terms.
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