Kota Kinabalu: More than 300 houses in five squatter areas here were found stealing electricity during a Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) operation on Tuesday. Some in the most creative ways possible to avoid detection.Its Tanjung Aru Central Zone Manager, Yuzrian Efren Yunus, said the operation, which also involved the Auxiliary Police, was carried out at Kg Lokub, Kg Gantisan, Kg Suang Parai, Kg Padas and Kg Ratau in the Sepanggar and Karambunai areas.
"During the operation, the team uncovered and seized hundreds of metres of electrical cables hidden in drains, in the ground, tapping of overhead electric cables, illegal connections to power sub-stations and City Hall street lighting panels. Immediately, we cut off the illegal connections in this tenth operation. On average, we seized between 50 and 100kg of various wires in each location," he said during the exercise at Kg.Lokub, near here.
Yuzrian said SESB incurs RM4 million losses every year because of illegal power connections. From January to June this year, 144 operations were carried in Kota Kinabalu, Tawau, Sandakan, Lahad Datu and Semporna.
He said efforts to eliminate power thefts in squatter areas have shown impact following a drop in SESB's distribution system losses from 14.84 per cent in 2006 to 8.27 per cent this year.
"We are asking for the public's cooperation to provide us with information on illegal connections or if they spot individuals behaving suspiciously at any of the SESB power sub-stations by contacting the nearest SESB office or call our hotline 15454 or 088-282455.
"It is a criminal offence to steal electricity under Section 37 of the Electricity Supply Act 1990 and those found guilty of committing the offence can be fined up to RM100,000 or three years' jail or both," Yuzrian said.
