SANDAKAN – Despite their pleas for essential services, the majority of the approximately 1,900 Pulau Jambongan Villagers residents have been living without proper electricity supply for decades, relying on generators that cost up to RM3,000 each.
Norazam Hishamudin, a resident of the island, finds it ironic that people complain about short power outages when his village has been without a direct electricity supply for generations.
The 27-year-old teacher shared that villagers spend approximately RM750 per month on petrol to power generators for lighting, a necessity for daily activities.
With generators lasting no more than two years when used for 12 hours a day, islanders face both financial strain and the environmental impact of constant generator usage.
“For decades, the villagers in Pulau Jambongan rely only on generators to generate electricity, and most of us only use it for lights at night so that we can still do our activities.
“But that is only for those who could afford a generator because they cost up to RM3,000 a unit depending on the size. Those who have generators would generally switch it off at 9pm to save petrol,” he told Scoop.
Pulau Jambongan, the second-largest island in Sabah, is about an hour and 15 minutes by boat from the nearest town, Paitan.
Despite having three primary schools, one health clinic, two military camps, and a police hut, the island lacks a stable electricity supply for its inhabitants.
As a teacher, Norazam said he understands the predicament of his students and would give them a minimal amount of homework because of these issues.
“They might not be able to finish (homework) before dark. It turns dark at about 6.30pm here,” he explained.
About 90% of the villagers are fishermen, while the rest are civil servants like Norazam, as well as palm oil labourers and carpenters. On average, most of the villagers earn a minimal income of RM1,000 a month, Norazam said.
He shared that the most difficult challenge that villagers faced was extreme heat during the day.
“Others can calm their children with air-conditioners. We can only use paper fans,” he added.
The situation became even more disheartening in 2017 when four solar projects were initiated under the Rural Electricity Supply Programme (BELB) by then-prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
The projects, allocated to villages including Kg Hujung, Kg Bahanan, Kg Malalin, and Kg Limau-limau, were abruptly halted in November 2021, leaving the infrastructure incomplete and abandoned.
Despite assurances from the Rural Development Ministry in 2022 that the projects would be completed, the facilities at the four solar sites on Pulau Jambongan remain unused.
Last year, the then secretary-general of the Rural Development Ministry, Datuk Ramlan Harun, said that he had brought the matter up at a special task force meeting with local authorities.
He did not reveal the reason for the halted projects but said he had issued a work suspension order on the project until all issues were resolved, adding that projects were expected to be completed by the end of 2022.
However, villagers suspect that changes in government and ministerial transitions may have contributed to the prolonged neglect of their electricity needs.
Norazam also highlighted the lack of treated water supply, revealing that households and schools collect rainwater in large tanks.
The villagers diligently conserve water, especially during drought seasons. Moreover, the high cost of goods, exacerbated by the RM100 two-way boat ride from Paitan, further burdens the already financially strained residents.
As Pulau Jambongan continues to grapple with these challenges, residents like Norazam hope the Madani government will take urgent action to address their longstanding issues and fulfil basic necessities promised to its citizens. – December 20, 2023
