KOTA KINABALU: The public can play its part by helping utility company Sabah Electric Sdn Bhd (SESB) deal with the rampant cable theft problem in the state, says the Sabah West Coast Smart Consu-mers Association.
Its president David Chan (pic) said it would be difficult for the authorities to stamp out the problem without support and help from the public.
Chan said cases of electric cable thefts or any vandalism needed to be dealt with in an integrated manner, adding that this could not be put on the shoulders of the authorities alone.
“The public need to be the eyes and ears of the SESB and the authorities,” he said in a statement here yesterday.
“Cable thefts not only disrupt the electricity supply but also inflict losses to the state.
“We hope this issue is given serious attention by all stakeholders including non-governmental organisations and community leaders.”
Cable thefts have been taking place in the state despite the best efforts of the authorities to curb the problem.
Last week, cable thieves forced SESB to mobilise six portable generators to Menara Kinabalu here, where the 33-storey administrative building housing the Chief Minister’s office is located, in order to supply power to the building.
Houses and commercial establishments near the building were also affected.
SESB senior general manager (asset management) Idris Mohd Noor said they had to instal the generators due to the electricity supply disruption to the building that was caused by damage done to its cables.
He said SESB’s technical team had discovered that the damage to the 33kV line was caused by an attempt to remove and steal the cable by unscrupulous parties.
Chan said cable thefts had caused hardship to many parties as SESB might need several days to a week to restore the power supply.
He also urged owners of second-hand shops or scrap metal yards who bought stolen cables be subjected to severe action as they were accomplices to thefts.
If no one bought stolen goods, he added, there would then be fewer cable thefts.
