KOTA KINABALU: Sept 29, 2026 – A total of 442 gazetted villages in Sabah have yet to receive electricity supply.
This represents 14 per cent of the total 3,164 villages in the state, while the remaining 86 per cent already have electricity supply.
The data was presented by Sabah Energy Commission (ECoS) officials Ir. Ts Glenn Isiah Stanley and Roy Sterken Raynol at a media session at Shangri-La Tanjung Aru yesterday.
To resolve the issue, ECoS has set the 442 villages as a permanent target and introduced several key intervention measures.
Among them are coordinating and expediting new financing for Rural Electricity Supply (BELB) projects under the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK-13); and using Sabah Electricity Supply Industry Trust Account (AAIBES) funds for small-scale BELB projects and assistance for internal house wiring through the Assisted Rural Wiring System (ARWS).
ECoS has also established the Sabah Rural Electrification Committee (JELaS) as a monitoring mechanism to ensure there are no delays on the ground.
The presentation also revealed six individuals charged in court with offences related to electricity theft under the Electricity Supply Enactment 2024.
Following this, ECoS is tightening enforcement by imposing maximum fines of up to RM1 million or imprisonment of up to 10 years for supplying electricity without a licence and tampering with installations.
For domestic premises using electricity dishonestly, fines range from RM1,000 to RM100,000, while non-domestic premises may be fined up to RM1 million.
The enactment also provides for fines of up to RM50,000 for unauthorised wire connections and up to RM100,000 for damaging meters.
As a comprehensive preventive measure, ECoS is intensifying integrated enforcement operations in collaboration with the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), the Immigration Department and the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM).
