Kota Kinabalu: Malaysian National Consumers Foundation (YPNM) Sabah Chapter commended the State Government for its forward-looking initiatives to strengthen the stability and sustainability of the State’s electricity and water supply.
The statement followed a courtesy visit by Sabah YPNM Chairman David Chan and committee members to Public Works Minister and Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam.
During the meeting, the delegation received a briefing on ongoing critical energy and infrastructure initiatives aimed at enhancing Sabah’s long-term energy resilience.
Key achievements highlighted included the launch of Sabah Electricity’s 100MW/400MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), currently the largest facility of its kind in Southeast Asia.
The project is seen as a major milestone in stabilising Sabah’s electricity grid, particularly improving supply reliability in the east coast and interior areas that previously experienced frequent outages.
YPNM said close collaboration between the Sabah Energy Commission (ECoS) and Sabah Electricity will benefit both domestic users and the industrial sector by enabling more efficient grid management, stronger energy planning and more reliable electricity delivery.
Joachim also shared insights on exploring Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (Otec) technology as part of Sabah’s renewable energy roadmap, positioning the State as a potential regional pioneer in next-generation clean energy.
Chan highlighted the importance of maintaining stable and cost-effective baseload energy to protect consumers and safeguard industrial competitiveness.
He also suggested exploring modern clean coal power plants, citing examples from Kalimantan, noting that coal remains among the most cost-efficient long-term energy sources if clean, environmentally friendly technologies are adopted.
“Energy policy should not be politicised. It must be guided by sustainability, affordability, and reliability, because stable and affordable electricity is essential for consumer welfare, economic growth, and attracting investment to Sabah,” Chan said.
YPNM confirmed its commitment to work closely with the State Government, ECoS and Sabah Electricity to pursue balanced and responsible energy solutions that serve the long-term interests of all Sabah residents.
