KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Government remains committed to ensuring a stable and sufficient electricity supply across the state a mission that will be achieved through both long-term sustainable energy strategies and pragmatic short-term measures.
State Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said the state recognises that sustainable energy is crucial not only for domestic needs but also to attract new investments to Sabah.
“To stabilise the state’s power supply, the government is encouraging renewable energy generation from sources such as solar, hydro and river systems as part of its long-term plan,” he told Sabah Media in a recent interview.
At the same time, he said the government has also introduced short- and medium-term measures to address the current shortage in energy reserve capacity.
Masidi revealed that the state will now allow management bodies of new industrial areas to build their own power plants or Independent Power Producers (IPPs).
“This approach enables industrial zones to generate their own electricity instead of depending solely on a single entity — Sabah Electricity. The excess electricity saved can then be redirected for domestic consumption,” he explained.
According to Masidi, this move will enhance investor confidence — both foreign and local — particularly in the manufacturing and heavy industry sectors, ensuring their operations are not disrupted by power supply issues.
“One of the main concerns among potential investors has always been the shortage of electricity supply. By allowing industrial zone management and major investors to develop their own IPPs, energy continuity at their sites will be better guaranteed,” he said.
Masidi emphasised that this initiative forms part of the government’s broader strategy to strengthen Sabah’s energy ecosystem while supporting the state’s rapidly growing industrial agenda.
He also reiterated that the state government has never shied away from its responsibility to ensure reliable electricity services in Sabah. However, he noted that the larger responsibility still lies with the Federal Government, given that Sabah Electricity is owned by Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), a federal government-linked company (GLC).
“People often blame the state government when there are power outages, when in fact Sabah Electricity is owned by TNB. In other words, electricity generation remains under federal control.
“That said, it does not mean the state government is washing its hands of the issue. We continue to assist and will keep doing so this is a shared responsibility,” he said.
For the record, during a special sitting of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly last year, three key Bills were passed to officially empower the state government to take over the regulatory control of the electricity supply and renewable energy sectors from the Federal Government.
The three Bills were the Sabah Energy Commission (Amendment) Bill 2024, the Electricity Supply Bill 2024, and the Renewable Energy Bill 2024.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, when winding up the debate on the Sabah Energy Commission (Amendment) Bill 2024, said the state government plans to take full ownership of Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) within seven years a step towards strengthening Sabah’s energy sovereignty.
Currently, 83 per cent of SESB shares are owned by TNB, while the remaining 17 per cent are held by the state government.
The move aligns with the goals outlined in the Sabah Energy Roadmap and Masterplan 2040 (SE-RAMP 2040), which envisions Sabah as an energy-resilient and low-carbon state by 2040.
