KUCHING, Sept 6: An act of vandalism was the root cause of a fire and explosion that occurred at a transformer in Kampung Panglima Seman, Petra Jaya that resulted in power disruption to several areas on Aug 28 at 9pm.
Confirming the incident, Sarawak Energy said the nearly one hour power disruption affected several areas, including Bintawa Hilir, Kampung Bintawa, Kampung Buah and surrounding areas.
Upon receiving the report from the public, Sarawak Energy’s technical teams were immediately despatched to the site to restore electricity supply, successfully completing the restoration by 9.51pm.
In a media release today, the utility company said a police report has been filed, and security patrols will be intensified in the area to prevent further acts of vandalism.
Sarawak Energy’s western regional manager Nazry Abdul Latip expressed disappointment that such incidents still occur despite its continuous efforts to educate the public about the dangers of tampering with live electrical facilities.
“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.
“If you notice any suspicious activities near our electrical facilities, please report them immediately to Sarawak Energy,” he urged the public.
Up until 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 Sarawak Energy losses of more than RM2 million.
In response, Sarawak Energy has taken several measuresto tackle this issue of vandalism. This includes 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.
Sarawak Energy is also collaborating closely with the police to conduct joint operations, including inspections of recycling centres and monitoring of the trade in stolen copper cables among second-hand dealers.
Members of the public who encounter suspicious activities are urged to report them immediately to Sarawak Energy’s 24-hour Customer Care Centre at 1300-88-3111 or via email at customercare@sarawakenergy.com. Sarawak Energy assures the public that all provided information will be treated with the utmost confidentiality. — DayakDaily
