SABAH Electricity chairman Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau has issued a warning about Pulau Banggi’s power supply. He says the island’s hybrid energy system is close to failure. This is due to old machinery and rising electricity demand.
“Two of our main diesel generators have been in use for over 15 years. They are outdated and break down often,” Tangau said on his Facebook page after visiting the island.
He added, “Under these conditions, we cannot guarantee a steady power supply.”
Tangau noted that peak electricity demand at night has reached 932 kilowatts. However, the island’s power infrastructure — a mix of solar panels and diesel engines — is no longer reliable. This is because of years of wear and tear.
The population of Banggi island has grown to over 30,000 people. As a result, electricity demand has increased over time.
“The system was designed to last, but it was never meant to run this long without major upgrades,” he explained.
The rural electrification project on Pulau Banggi started in 2009 with a 200 kWp solar-diesel hybrid system. It was expanded in 2014 with Phase 2, which added 1,000 kWp of solar panels and five diesel generators totaling 1,450 kW capacity.
Further diesel units, each with 1,000 kW capacity, were added in 2017 and 2024. This brought the total diesel capacity to 2,000 kW.
Despite the total installed capacity exceeding 2,600 kW, the system struggles to meet the peak load of 932 kW consistently. This is because of aging equipment, damaged solar panels, worn-out batteries, and frequent generator breakdowns.
Tangau said many parts of the system — including batteries, solar panels, and wiring — have deteriorated.
“Some solar panels barely absorb sunlight now. The storage batteries have lost much of their capacity,” he explained.
Sabah Electricity added two newer diesel units in 2017 and 2024 to reduce pressure on older machines. Still, Tangau said this is not enough.
“We are patching holes on a sinking ship. What we need is full federal support to upgrade the entire system,” he urged.
Sabah Electricity is preparing a technical report for the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development. This will be presented on June 3. After that, a meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will follow.
The energy crisis has sparked political disputes between two major parties in Sabah.
Recently, Sabah Bersatu’s women’s chief, Rahimah Majid, accused the federal government of abandoning several rural solar projects in the Banggi area and on Balambangan Island.
She mentioned four sites — Pulau Tanjung Manawali, Pulau Tigabu, Kampung Kok Simpul, and Kampung Selamat in Pulau Balambangan. She claimed these projects have been left unfinished since their launch in 2017.
In response, Libaran MP Datuk Suhaimi Nasir said Rahimah was twisting facts for political gain.
He clarified that the original hybrid system on Pulau Banggi was completed in 2015. It was then handed over to Sabah Electricity for operation. This means current breakdowns are the responsibility of Sabah Electricity, not the federal ministry.
Regarding the villages Rahimah mentioned, Suhaimi said Pulau Tigabu and Kampung Selamat belong to a different solar project called the Sistem Solar Hibrid Pulau-Pulau Terpencil Negeri Sabah. This project is still ongoing and 85% complete.
He admitted there have been delays. The government is planning to terminate the contractor for missing deadlines.
However, Suhaimi did not clarify the status of Pulau Tanjung Manawali and Kampung Kok Simpul. Their progress and classification remain unclear.
This exchange shows a larger political blame game, while rural communities continue to wait for reliable electricity.
The projects Rahimah mentioned have not been handed over to Sabah Electricity. They are still under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry, which is led by Zahid.
Bersatu and Umno are political rivals at the federal level.
Meanwhile, Tangau urges all parties to focus on solutions instead of political disputes.
“This is not about political points. People just want stable electricity. That requires investment, not arguments,” he said.
He added that this problem affects not only Pulau Banggi but also other inhabited islands.
“We run similar systems on 16 other islands — nine in Semporna and six in Sandakan. Many of these systems are in the same poor condition.”
“We cannot delay any longer. Reliable electricity is crucial for lives and livelihoods,” Tangau concluded.
