POLICE in the Sarawak oil town of Miri arrested six people – two of them women – in a confrontation to end their nearly two-year fight to lock out contractors of the state power company, Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB), from entering a site to resume the construction of the town’s new indoor 33KV substation.

The substation, an extension of the town’s existing substation, is a key piece in SEB’s RM1 billion power supply reinforcement plan to upgrade the supply system of the town and to meet rising electricity demand.

SEB said the new substation is also critical for the reinforcement and stabilising of the supply system of the town’s central district and surrounding areas.

Miri district police chief ACP Lim Meng Seah said his men had to use a little force in the arrest of the six people, all reportedly from one family.

They were part of the villagers of Kg Lereng Bukit whose action to block access to the construction site since 2017 over land ownership dispute and compensation had put the project on hold while allowing talks to be held.

With no solution in sight, SEB sought police’s help to clear out the protesters and obstacles they had placed on the access road to the site.

SEB said the villagers’ action had severely delayed the project and compromised the reliability of Miri’s electricity supply.

The substation was targeted for commissioning in August 2018.

The power company said the action was carried out after they had secured an injunction order from the court.

Assisting the police team of about 46 men were enforcement personnel from SEB, its operations arm Syarikat Sesco Bhd, state security and enforcement unit, the electrical inspectorate unit of the ministry of utilities, the General Operations Force and the Land and Survey Department.

“SEB had worked with the assistance and support from relevant authorities to reach out to the land claimants on several occasions to explain the criticality of the substation to ensure supply reliability to the people of Miri.

“SEB respects the rights of individuals and organisations to express themselves in a lawful manner that does not deny the larger community the right to reliable supply as well as jeopardise the safe operations of its facilities and the safety of its personnel who are carrying out their duties,” it said in a statement.

The six people reportedly could be charged under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing civil servants from discharging his duty. – June 27, 2019.