MIRI: Eight hundred and twenty-seven residents from 100 households at Tutoh Apoh, Baram-Long Ukok, Kampung Batu Belah, Long Patan and Long Pahlo in Marudi now have 24-hour solar electricity.
The RM4.4-million project was realised under the Sarawak Alternative Rural Electrification Scheme (Sares).
Assistant Minister for Rural Electricity Supply Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi officiated at the commissioning ceremony at Long Ukok on Sunday.
“Now I can wash clothes using a washing machine,” said Ulau Ajon, 70, told the New Sarawak Tribune.
Sares was implemented in stages in the villages since November 2018.
According to Ulau, Sares has made their lives much easier because prior to it the villagers spent nearly RM400 per “door” (living unit) on diesel for their power generators.
“Now we should be able to save the money,” she said.
Long Ukok’s chief Christoper Pusu, 79, said: “There are nearly 400 people in our 37-door longhouse who now have their lives brightened up literally.”
Christoper thanked the state government for its efforts in bringing electricity to their longhouse including those at Long Patan and Long Pahlo.
“What we need next is a good road connecting us to the nearest town which is Marudi,” he said.
He was convinced that the road would help the villagers improve their socio-economic well-being.
For Joseph Sanong, 70, such a road is crucial as it would cut their travelling time. Long Ukok is about five hours’ drive from Miri.
In Miri Division, Sares has already provided electricity for almost 2,300 households at 28 villages in Telang Usan, seven in Long Lama, nine in Beluru and six in Marudi.
By 2020, about 120 remote communities in the division will have 24-hour reliable and renewable electricity, thanks to Sares which is an innovative government-community partnership utilising renewable off-grid solutions to light up the state’s most remote villages.
Sares is funded by the state government via its Ministry of Utilities and implemented by Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB).
“The accelerated Rural Electrification Masterplan aims at expediting full electricity coverage for Sarawak by 2025 through a mix of strategies,” said Abdul Rahman.
“This includes expanding the grid by extending transmission and distribution infrastructure as well as lighting up remote communities through off-grid solutions.
“An allocation of RM2.37 billion has been approved for the 2019-2020 period to accelerate rural electrification coverage to 97 percent and full electrification by 2025.”
Sares is expected to power about 15,600 households in remote villages by 2021 with either solar or micro-hydro power solutions.
Launched in 2016, the RM830-million programme has accelerated electricity coverage in Sarawak and has lighted up almost 5,000 of the 15,600 households.
State Legislative Assembly Deputy speaker Datuk Gerawat Gala, Telang Usan Assemblyman Dennis Ngau, Syed Fauzi Shahab director of Electricity Supply (Ministry of Utilities), SEB vice-president for Rural Electrification Dr Chen Shiun, representatives from relevant agencies, and community leaders were among those who witnessed the commissioning ceremony.
