NEWS & UPDATES

KUCHING
24 SEPTEMBER 2024

A dangerous act of vandalism and attempted cable theft has been identified as the cause of a power supply disruption at Jalan Tabuan in Kuching during the early hours of Monday, 23 September 2024. The incident, discovered at 2:00AM, caused damage to a high-voltage underground cable critical for maintaining stable electricity supply in the area.

Sarawak Energy, through its operational and retail arm, Syarikat SESCO Berhad (SESCO), immediately dispatched its technical team to assess and repair the damage. The repairs were successfully completed by 11:55AM on the same day, with minimal impact on customers as an alternative supply source was activated to the affected area.

An inspection revealed that the damage was the result of an attempted cable theft. A police report has been lodged, and the company is working closely with the authorities to investigate the incident and strengthen security measures to prevent future occurrences.

Vandalism of electricity infrastructure remains a pressing issue in Sarawak, despite an ongoing public awareness campaign. Since 2023, there have been 303 reported cases, resulting in damage close to RM5 million. Beyond the financial loss, such acts endanger public safety and can lead to major service disruptions. Tampering with high-voltage equipment also poses serious risks, including life-threatening injuries such as electrocution and severe burns.

Sarawak Energy is committed to safeguarding its critical infrastructure by enhancing security measures. This includes increased patrols in high-risk areas and the implementation of advanced monitoring systems to detect unauthorised access or tampering.

Sarawak Energy remains committed to investing in modern technology, backup systems and enhancing its infrastructure to ensure the efficiency and reliability of its power network. SESCO’s technical teams are also on constant standby and ready for prompt restoration in the event of supply interruptions.

The public is encouraged to report suspicious activities to Sarawak Energy's 24-hour Customer Care Centre at 1300-88-3111 or via email at customercare@sarawakenergy.com with the assurance of utmost confidentiality.

Location of the vandalised high-voltage underground cable.

Close-up photo of the damaged cable.

The technical team repaired the damaged cable, successfully completing the repairs by 11:55AM on the same day.