September 18, 2025
KOTA KINABALU – In an emotional address, Sabah Electricity chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Yaakob Jaafar announced that power to the state’s east coast had been fully restored on Wednesday (Sept 17) night — just four days after a massive landslide crippled the grid.
Yaakob said the Kolopis–Segaliud line was reconnected and synchronised with Sandakan’s Main Intake Substation (PMU) Seguntor at 8.10pm, restoring the crucial link between the west and east.
“Tonight, the east and west are back as one Sabah grid. We had targeted eight days, but we solved it in four,” he said during a live broadcast on the utility’s Facebook page.
He explained that when the grid was cut, Sandakan, Beluran and Kinabatangan had been operating in isolation under the “Sandakan island” system, while Tawau, Lahad Datu, Kunak and Semporna were on the “Tawau island” network. With the reconnection, both islands were merged back into the main state grid.
Yaakob added that power transfer from Kota Kinabalu to Segaliud had begun at 20MW and would be scaled up to 200MW, ensuring a more stable supply. The reconnection also restored electricity to the Segaliud water treatment plant, expected to ease Sandakan’s water crisis.
The utility chief grew emotional as he addressed the backlash and criticisms from the people of Sabah, appealing for public understanding.
“We hope Sabahans can be more tolerant and understanding. All our staff also have families and commitments, yet they left them behind to work day and night so electricity could return,” he said.
He then paused for a few seconds to hold back his tears, before continuing.
Choking back sobs, Yaakob said the workers endured harsh words while pushing on through difficult conditions.
“We are not perfect, but we are committed. This was a disaster — not something we asked for. But in every crisis, we give our best,” he said.
He ended the broadcast with a prayer for his colleague feared drowned in Keningau, and for the safety of teams risking their lives in the field.
“Please pray that our colleague who was swept away can be found, and that our teams will be safe as they carry out dangerous tasks. By midnight, Sabah will shine again,” he said.
Yaakob later thanked the Sabah government, especially Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and the state disaster committee, for their support in enabling the reconnection to be completed faster than expected.
The crisis began on Sept 13 when a landslide in Kolopis brought down transmission Tower 5, severing supply along the Kolopis–Segaliud line. The collapse plunged Sandakan, Lahad Datu, Tawau, Kunak, Semporna, Beluran and Kinabatangan into darkness, with some districts enduring blackouts that stretched up to 20 hours a day.
In Tawau, generators were selling like hot cakes as desperate households and businesses scrambled for backup power. Nearly half a million people in Sandakan were also hit by crippling water shortages as treatment plants shut down, forcing hospitals to postpone surgeries.
Tensions boiled over, culminating in a flashmob protest on Monday (Sept 15) as residents demanded urgent solutions.