THE Sabah government is ready to take over Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) and independently manage power supply, said Mohd Shafie Apdal today.

The chief minister and state finance minister said his administration is mulling the plan, and will make a decision after a study on the matter.

“The state government is prepared to play a bigger role in the preparation of services and critical amenities, like electricity and water supply.

“The government is now considering taking over SESB. This will depend on the outcome of a study on the move,” he said when winding up the state Finance Ministry’s budget speech in the state assembly today.

Tenaga Nasional Bhd owns 82.75% of SESB, with the rest owned by the state.

SESB was previously known as the Sabah Electricity Board, which was fully owned by the state government until it was privatised on September 1, 1998.

Despite the privatisation, lack of power supply remains one of Sabah’s biggest woes. Numerous political parties have called on the state government to seize back SESB from federal control.

Putrajaya is mulling building a coal power plant to resolve the state’s electricity problems, but the proposal has been met with fierce opposition from Sabah environmental groups.

Shafie added that the state Infrastructure Development Ministry will review all water concessions.

Its minister, Peter Anthony, previously said the ministry is reviewing lopsided deals approved by the previous Barisan Nasional administration, involving six companies. – November 14, 2018.