Power trip at Jln Tabuan caused by vandalism, attempted cable theft

KUCHING (Sept 25): Vandalism and attempted cable theft have been identified as the cause of a power supply disruption affecting those at Jalan Tabuan here in the early hours of Monday.

Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB), in a press release, said the incident, which was discovered at 2am, had caused damage to a high-voltage underground cable critical for maintaining stable electricity supply in the area.

Through its operational and retail arm Syarikat Sesco Bhd (Sesco), a technical team was immediately despatched 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, tampering with high-voltage equipment could lead to major service disruptions, as well as endanger public safety and pose serious risks, including life-threatening injuries such as electrocution and severe burns,” said SEB.

It added: “We are committed to safeguarding our critical infrastructure by enhancing security measures, including increased patrols in high-risk areas and the implementation of advanced monitoring systems to detect unauthorised access or tampering.

“We also remain committed to investing in modern technology, backup systems and enhancing its infrastructure, in order 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.”

Those who may witness suspicious activities related to electricity infrastructure, are advised to call SEB’s 24-hour Customer Care Centre line 1-300-88-3111, or email to customercare@sarawakenergy.com, with the assurance of utmost confidentiality.