SIPITANG: Nine months after a major blackout plunged much of Sabah’s East Coast into darkness, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim launched the first phase of a project aimed at strengthening the state’s power transmission network and laying the groundwork for future regional energy connectivity.
The wider Sabah Southern Link Madani (SSML) project, of which the RM198 million Phase 1A forms the first component, is estimated to cost close to RM2bil and is expected to improve supply reliability, increase transmission capacity and enhance the resilience of Sabah’s electricity system.
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Speaking at the launch Saturday (June 13), Anwar described energy security as a growing global concern and said reliable electricity supply was essential for economic growth and investment.
“Electricity and energy are no longer small issues. Energy security has become a global concern,” he said.
The launch marks the start of the wider Southern Link initiative, which seeks to address a longstanding challenge in Sabah’s electricity network.
Much of the state’s cheaper electricity is generated on the West Coast using gas-fired power plants, while consumers on the East Coast rely heavily on power transmitted across the state through existing transmission corridors.
The importance of strengthening Sabah’s grid was highlighted on Sept 13, last year, when a disruption involving the state’s 275kV transmission system left districts including Sandakan, Lahad Datu, Kinabatangan, Tawau, Kunak, Semporna and Beluran without electricity.
The SSML Phase 1A project involves the construction of a 60km double-circuit 275kV transmission line between Mengalong in Sipitang and Upper Padas in Tenom, together with interconnection facilities at PMU Mengalong.
Construction began on Sept 17, 2025 and is scheduled for completion on Sept 16, 2028. As of May 26, overall progress stood at 17%.
While the section being launched does not directly connect Sabah’s West Coast and East Coast grids, it forms one of the key building blocks of the wider Southern Link initiative, which will eventually establish a second 275kV transmission corridor linking the state’s western and eastern power systems.
According to Sabah Electricity, the broader project is expected to improve supply reliability, strengthen transmission capacity and provide greater flexibility in managing Sabah’s electricity system while supporting future economic growth.
Anwar said dependable electricity supply was fundamental to attracting investments and creating employment opportunities.
“Who wants to invest if electricity supply is unreliable? If power keeps going out or there is insufficient supply to support industries, investors will hesitate,” he said.
He also paid tribute to workers involved in constructing the transmission infrastructure through challenging terrain and dense forest areas.
“If not for their sacrifices, these substations and transmission lines crossing remote forest areas would not have been completed,” he said.
Looking beyond Sabah, Anwar said the project could eventually support broader regional energy integration under the proposed Asean Power Grid.
He said future interconnections could see Sabah linked with Sarawak, Indonesia’s Kalimantan region and the southern Philippines, allowing the state to play a larger role in regional electricity connectivity.
“This is no longer just about Sabah. We are talking about how Sabah, with stronger energy capacity, can contribute to a wider regional grid.”
Anwar said the project reflected the government’s commitment to ensuring development reached all parts of the country, including remote and rural communities.
“As long as the benefits do not reach every corner of the state, from rapidly developing cities to the most remote districts, development will not truly benefit the people on the ground,” he said.
He also announced an allocation of RM250,000 for SMK Sipitang to improve facilities, including computer equipment and other educational needs.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor were among those present.
Hajiji said strong energy infrastructure is crucial to supporting the development of strategic industrial areas such as the Sipitang Oil and Gas Industrial Park Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park, Palm Oil Industrial Cluster Lahad Datu, as well as various industrial zones and economic growth hubs being planned across the state.
He said all these areas require a stable and sufficient electricity supply to support industrial activities and attract more domestic and international investments.
“The Sabah Southern Madani Link project will not only enhance the reliability of electricity supply between regions but also provide the capacity needed to integrate more renewable energy sources into Sabah’s grid system in the future,” he said.
Hajiji also expressed appreciation to the Prime Minister for his support in implementing the project, as well as to all parties involved in making it a reality.
“May this project become the foundation for a brighter future for Sabah, with a stable energy supply, a rapidly growing economy and progress that can be enjoyed by all the people of this state,” he said.
