Anti-power theft campaigners from Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) are currently engaged in a tiresome battle with power thieves from 51 squatter colonies comprising illegal immigrants across the state.

It has become a war of nerves that seems ready to drag on for months with no end in sight.

While SESB staff may be busy cutting and reeling in the illegal power connections at one end, power thieves at the other end may be equally busy rolling in any illegal wiring that they can salvage before the public utility reaches their area.

visitors shy away from ranau kundasang sabah 230609 05 SESB General Manager (Distribution) Ahmad Fuad Mohd Kassim admits "it's a losing battle so far against unmetered premises", an euphemism for squatter colonies.

In any case, co-ordination and the element of surprise seems to be missing in the SESB campaign.

Under Section 38 of the Electricity Supply Act, anti-power theft only targeted premises with meters.

Under the Act, SESB cannot supply electricity without the consent of the landlord or owner of the house/premises.

This includes land belonging to the state which has been turned into squatter areas.

"We are in discussions with the Energy Commission to find ways and means to haul those who make illegal electricity connections to court. Section 37 of the Electricity Supply Act 1990 carries a fine up to RM 100,000 for power theft," pointed out Ahmad without explaining how a squatter dweller could fork out such a heavy fine.

"It is also dangerous to connect electrical wires from any SESB electrical poles or substations. This could result in additional charges."

But there is a legal dilemma that SESB faces.

Power theft is not a criminal offence under current laws. SESB can only file a civil suit against power thieves.

Ahmad blames the recurrent load-shedding exercises, power-trips and blackouts in the state on premises without meters that are "making illegal power supply connections to their houses."

All this has meant a bad press for SESB.

Shocking, absolutely shocking

Besides, power theft is costing the cash-strapped public utility millions in lost revenue which is badly needed for repair and maintenance works.

Still, SESB says that it has had some operational successes but this is limited to only confiscating cables used in illegal connections.

Since the present campaign began in April this year, SESB has raided all 51 squatter areas some 63 times. Each site has 200 to 300 houses.

taman wahyu tnb electrical power cables tower 051206 02 Public co-operation, vital to stamp out the menace for good, appears to be lacking.

Generally, most of the power thieves will re-connect new electrical wires on the very same day after the disconnection and confiscation has been done.

The power thieves connect wires the wires directly to a sub-station and street lighting panels.

Wires will be crudely connected to a junction box and then camouflaged in bushes until it reaches the squatter colony.

Often, the cable insulators are removed and this exposes the public to electrocution.

The connection will lead to another squatter colony.

Telekom Malaysia is a favourite target of thieves looking for free cables.

taman wahyu tnb electrical power cables tower 051206 01 In the past, SESB has shut off power to whole stretches of street lighting.

Many local authorities are also in arrears to SESB partly because of the power thieves.

Kota Kinabalu City Hall says it owes SESB several million ringgit in electricity tariff arrears stretching over several years.

"If we estimate the minimum bill for each squatter house to be RM 30 per month, an entire colony will cause us substantial revenue losses every month. We need to do something to recover this loss," explained Ahmad.

"This the 8th time that we have hit the same areas in recent months and the problem is no nearer a solution.

SESB also plans to improve their system to make it harder for the squatters to carry out illegal connections, according to Ahmad.

Hitting them hard

The thrust of future SESB operations is not merely aimed at revenue loss but ensuring the safety of customers and members of the public.

Success will also be measured by the amount of wires and cables seized.

parliament lock on electrical power point 290609 01 This "would at least slow down the illegal activities as well as cause the power thieves to spend more money on new cables."

The idea seems to be hit the power thieves in the squatter colonies repeatedly until they quit, failing which, the colonies will be torn down and torched by the local authorities.

"We would like to urge the local authorities to tear down the squatter colonies," said SESB South Zone Manager, Rudy Thaddeus while detailing the progress of the large-scale anti-power theft operation in Tawau.

"We have cleared seven areas so far of power thieves i.e. Mile 3, Mile 4, Kampung Tinagat, Timatch Jalan Utara, Tawau Lama, Airport Lama and Jalan Kuhara."

Power theft in Sabah is not confined to squatter colonies and unmetered premises but is even more rampant in commercial premises, residential areas and industrial estates.

As SESB Managing Director Baharin Din said "Power theft has almost become a culture in Sabah. Some people are not happy unless they steal."