KUALA LUMPUR – Critics and observers would say that blackouts are synonymous with election days.
So, it could come as a relief to some that Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) is placing 2,500 employees on standby to ensure the lights stay on, on polling day this Saturday.
According to a statement by TNB, said staffers will be deployed to the field and in the operation rooms in the six states involved in state elections.
TNB chief distribution network officer Wan Nazmy Wan Mahmood said it is one of the preparatory steps to ensure that the electricity supply in all 3,214 polling stations and 180 official vote tallying centres was in good condition.
“TNB has made early preparations in an effort to ensure the technical, operational and standby aspects of electricity supply to those locations are always assured. We have also deployed task forces to monitor and stand by at important locations.”
He said in a statement that a total of 198 mobile power trucks and 144 mobile gensets have also been placed on standby to provide electricity if needed.
Wan Nazmy said the electricity supply situation throughout the country would also be monitored at all times until the official tallying of votes, which was expected to continue until midnight on Saturday or early the next morning.
As a precautionary measure, TNB warned against digging up the ground to reduce the risk of touching electric cables, and avoiding the possibility of electricity supply disruption due to cable damage.
Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, Penang, Selangor and Negri Sembilan head to the polls this Saturday. – August 10, 2023