I refer to the Malaysiakini reports Heat builds over Sabah brown-outs and Power matters in Sabah hardly empowering.

The shortage of power in Sabah is not something new. Only it has become worse this time due to the shutdown of a few power plants for maintenance purposes. In the past, there were frequent interruptions in power supply due to the breakdown of the old and unreliable diesel generation sets that are still operating in Sabah. With hardly any reserve margin, any breakdown will cause power failures in some parts of the state.

While Peninsular Malaysia has the luxury of a 40 percent reserve in power supply, this is not the case in Sabah. Even in the best of times, it is operating at less than a 10 percent reserve. Ideally, it should have a reserve of 40 percent.

If we take into account the annual growth of 7.7 percent in power consumption, the need to replace the diesel generation sets and the power requirements as per the implementation of the Sabah Economic Corridor plan, many new power generation plants are required.

Recently, the new Energy Minister announced that Sabah's power needs will be only 1,500 megawatt (MW) by 2020, while Sarawak's needs are projected at 7,000MW and Peninsular Malaysia a whopping 20,000MW. Why is Sabah power requirement so low compared to Sarawak, when the population of Sabah is slightly more than that of Sarawak?

If this is the scenario, one can only conclude that the Sabah will remain an underdeveloped state. The projection by SESB/TNB on Sabah's power requirement is grossly underestimated. They failed to take into account the present suppressed demand situation. Since there is a shortage of supply, demand is artificially suppressed.

In this case, Sabah will be at the losing end in terms of attracting investments. To overcome this scenario, Sabah has to have at least a 40 percent margin. Unfortunately, SESB/TNB are misleading the public and they are not telling the truth.

Sabah is one of the poorest states in Malaysia. Many households still do not have electricity supply. Rural schools provided with computers find difficulty in using them because of poor electricity supply.

Many factories, hotels and commercial buildings have their own diesel- generating sets which is an extra cost to them. New investments especially the manufacturing sector is hard to come by because of insufficient power.

The issue of power shortage has been raised many times in the Sabah state assembly and also in parliament by Sabah members of Parliament. In response, the federal government approved three new IPP projects during 2005 to 2008. This is in addition to SESB's own plans to develop their new power generation plants.

However, although it is now 2009, the IPP plant that was supposed to have commenced operation in 2008 has yet to do so. The project has been delayed. The second coal-fired plant project is now in limbo following objections from the public.

The third plant is only supposed to begin operations in 2011/2012. Unfortunately SESB/TNB is not showing any urgency in the implementation of this project despite knowing very well that the first two projects have been delayed and Sabah is facing an imminent power shortage.

For nearly 10 months, SESB/TNB practically did nothing to implement the project. In the meantime they continue to push for the coal plant and even promote a new plant which has not been approved by the government. Why all this politicking by SESB/TNB? Is there a personal agenda?

In response to the cancellation of the coal-power plant in Lahad Datu, TNB, in their press statement says: "Sabah faces an acute power shortage problem and the urgency to provide for the additional 300 MW from the Lahad Datu project is very real".

So what is the CEO of TNB doing? He is getting a fat salary of over RM1 million a year including benefits and he wants more. It was reported that the TNB board approved a substantial increment in his salary last year but it was overturned by the cabinet.

Maybe the former DCM of Sabah is right to ask whether SESB/TNB is being run by the opposition for ignoring the decisions of the government.

In view of the prolonged shortage of power in Sabah, SESB/TNB as the sole power utility company in Sabah must be more transparent and proactive in their actions so that Sabahans are not kept in the dark.

The recent disclosures of the planned power-related projects in Sabah although late, are a good start. SESB/TNB must show some sense of urgency and should not play politics and impose their personal agenda at the expense of Sabah.

Sabahans are left wondering whether the CEO of TNB has the people of Sabah at heart or he has his own personal agenda. Is he aiming for an extension of his contract in TNB or he is targeting to lead some other more profitable GLC?

After all, it is not so great to be the CEO of the year when the organisation you are managing loses money.

Before Sabah faces a serious blackout, I hope SESB/TNB will put some serious effort into implementing the various projects approved by the federal government and stop playing politics.

Or else Sabah's development will be left far behind. This goes to other government agencies as well.