Kota Kinabalu: The State Rural Development Ministry is looking into the possibility of introducing hybrid solar and hydroelectricity systems in far-flung villages across Sabah, drawing on a community-led project already running in Kampung Pokolon Paus, Ranau.
Ministry Permanent Secretary Datuk Myrna Jimenez said the hybrid concept is a new dimension the Ministry is exploring, even though it has already been proven on the ground by non-governmental organisations.
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She was among panellist at the SANKALPA Sabah 2030 Forum on the implementation of the SMJ 2.0 strategy held at the Sabah International Convention Centre, here.
“This is a new dimension for us,” she said, referring to the possibility of introducing hybrid systems more broadly, before pointing to Kampung Pokolon Paus as a working example.
“I believe Kampung Pokolon Paus in Ranau can become Sabah’s benchmark if we want to extend light to far-flung villages,” she said, acknowledging how the settlement started small with a Pico Hydro system powering only a handful of homes before growing into a full hybrid setup covering dozens of houses.
She credited non-governmental organisations for pioneering rural electrification efforts in Sabah, often ahead of the government itself.
“Sometimes I feel a little embarrassed as a policy advisor, because it is often non-governmental organisations who pioneer these efforts before we catch up,” she said, acknowledging the role civil society groups have played in extending electricity to some of the state’s most remote villages.
For the record, the hybrid power system in Kg Pokolon Paus, Ranau is a community-led initiative by Tonibung, Pacos Trust and Green Empowerment under the Sabah Renewable Energy Rural Electrification consortium, known as Sabah RE2, with funding from Seacology, CMAD and EKOenergy Eco Label.
It combines a 50kWp solar photovoltaic array with a 3.5kW pico hydro unit and a 122kWh battery energy storage system, supplying electricity to 42 houses and communal facilities.
The setup draws on solar power during dry periods and switches to pico hydro during the rainy season, with battery storage keeping supply stable throughout.
She said this project will serve as a useful reference for shaping future rural electrification policy.
On water supply, Myrna said gravity fed systems and additional storage tanks remain the main alternative for villages the Water Department cannot reach.
She said the maintenance cost for these community-based systems is shared by residents through minimal user charges.
“Batteries are not cheap and need to be changed every 10 to 15 years, but this reduces the burden on the government while empowering the community to manage their own resources,” she said.
She also touched on the needs of rural communities. “They want roads, clean water, electricity, Internet connectivity and quality education. Even if they do not become rich, at least let them break free from the cycle of poverty,” she said.
On infrastructure, she said the Ministry is also looking into a new rural bridge programme under the 13th Malaysia Plan, which would introduce three types of bridges to connect villages that have long been cut off.
“We want to bring in suspension bridges, vehicle bridges and low-level crossings,” she said, adding that districts with rivers could generate hydro power while those without could turn to solar energy, with some combining both into a hybrid system.
