KOTA KINABALU: The ailing Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) came into the spotlight during debates at the special state assembly sitting here.
Datuk Junz Wong of Warisan (Tanjung Aru) said the focus of the top management should be on the delivery of duties and business as well as to keep SESB profitable.
He also said there was no need for the utility company to incur additional unnecessary costs.
“Is there a need to appoint 13 new staff members for the chairman when the former only had one or two assisting him?” he asked while debating the Energy Commission Sabah Enactment 2023 amendment yesterday.
Wong said the utility company should focus on providing proper uninterrupted power supply to the people.
He also claimed that cybertroopers were being hired by management to counter negative comments against SESB on social media.
He alleged that medical perks for SESB staff and retirees were withdrawn and they were no longer allowed to seek treatment at private hospitals.
“We need a healthy, happy workforce to deliver SESB, so is it wise to remove medical benefits from the staff, which they have enjoyed since decades ago?” he asked.
He said that top officials should not be “politicking” and use SESB as a “tool to defend their personal image”.
He said Sabah should learn from Sarawak in managing and profiting well from its energy and power supply.
Wong said the issues of debts in SESB and IPPs must be addressed to reduce costs and electricity tariffs.
He also urged that matters involving load shedding and faulty power plants such as the Tenom Pangi Hydro Electric Station be addressed and solved.
Wong said it would not serve the state economy any good even with billions of ringgit worth of potential investments without stable and consistent electricity supply.
Earlier, Sindumin assemblyman Datuk Yusuf Yacob said the passing of the enactment would answer questions as to why Sabah is faced with constant power supply woes among others, and hopefully, solve the issue.
He said the federal Energy Commission had never understood the plight of Sabahans because “they are not here”.
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