KUCHING: An act of vandalism caused a fire and explosion at a transformer in Kpg Panglima Seman in Petra Jaya recently.
According to Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB), the 9 pm incident on Aug 28 resulted in a power disruption to several areas, including Bintawa Hilir, Kpg Bitawa, Kpg Buah and other surrounding areas, lasting for over an hour.
“Upon receiving a report from the public, SEB’s technical teams were immediately despatched to the site to restore electricity supply, successfully completing the restoration by 9.51 pm.
“A police report has been filed, and we have intensified security patrols in the area to prevent further acts of vandalism,” SEB said in a press release.
The electric utility company’s western regional manager Nazry Abdul Latip expressed his concerns regarding the incident, saying: “Despite our continuous efforts to educate the public about the dangers of tampering with live electrical facilities, such incidents still occur.
“Being in close proximity to live electrical facilities carries the risk of serious injuries and even potential loss of life due to electrocution and burns. It could also cause power outages that would be an inconvenience to others.”
He appealed to the public to report to SEB if they come across any suspicious activities near electrical facilities.
They can report to Sarawak Energy’s 24-hour Customer Care Centre at 1300-88-3111 or via email at customercare@sarawakenergy.com.
SEB assured that all information received will be treated with confidentiality.
As of July this year, there have been 86 reported cases of vandalism throughout Sarawak, with 14 of them occurring in Kuching alone.
“These acts of vandalism have caused losses of more than RM2 million.
“We have taken several measures to tackle this issue of vandalism. These include implementing increased night patrols and utilising remote sensors to promptly detect any unauthorised entry into its facilities.
“The company has been actively engaging with communities and the media to educate the public about the dangers of vandalism and the serious consequences it can have,” SEB said.
