MADANI GOV'T TO ENSURE CONTINUOUS ELECTRICITY SUPPLY IN RURAL SARAWAK - NANTA

KAPIT, Jan 24 (Bernama) -- The MADANI Government remains committed to ensuring a stable 24-hour electricity supply in remote schools in Sarawak through the implementation of the Hybrid Solar System Maintenance Project and the upgrading of electricity supply systems from 2025 to 2027.

The project, implemented by the Ministry of Works, involves 121 rural schools across Sarawak and aims to replace diesel generators, which are costly and difficult to maintain, particularly in remote areas.

“The implementation of the hybrid solar system enables savings of up to 80 per cent in operational and maintenance costs, equivalent to about RM90 million annually compared to the use of diesel,” said Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi.

He said this during the handover ceremony of the completed Hybrid Solar System Project at Sekolah Kebangsaan Nanga Bangkit, Katibas, Song, today.

According to him, the government had allocated RM274.5 million for the project under the Fourth Rolling Plan (RP4) of the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP).

Nanta said that to date, 97 schools have been completed and have been operational since 2023, while another 15 schools completed and handed over in November 2025. The remaining nine schools are scheduled to be completed in stages in 2026 and 2027.

The ceremony also saw the handing over of letters of acceptance for three hybrid solar system maintenance contract packages for the 2025-2027 period to ensure the continued operation and sustainability of the systems.

He said the project also supports the adoption of green technology through a modern energy storage system using lithium and sodium batteries, which will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions while creating opportunities to develop local expertise in the renewable energy sector.

Overall, the initiative is expected to benefit more than 3,000 students and nearly 2,000 teachers in remote areas of Sarawak, in line with the aspirations of Malaysia MADANI, which emphasise fair, inclusive and sustainable rural development.

Meanwhile, Nanta said the government has allocated over RM30 million for the implementation of Package 2 of the hybrid solar system repair project involving 43 schools across Sarawak that were damaged by floods over the past few years.

He said the project encompassed schools in rural areas, including in the districts of Song and Kapit, as well as other remote areas, with SK Lubuk Bedil in the Katibas state constituency among them.

He added that most of the hybrid solar systems at the affected schools suffered serious damage, especially to the battery and inverter components, following floods that occurred early last year, while the solar panels on the roofs could still be used after being repaired.

According to Nanta, the project's scope of work included replacing the main equipment, as well as other physical works on the school buildings, including facilities used as open halls.

"This project is extremely crucial to ensuring rural children get the same educational opportunities as those in urban schools. We do not want any community to be marginalised,” he said.

As for the implementation period, he said the contractors have been given two months from the date of handover of the acceptance letter to start work, and the main equipment, such as inverters and batteries, is expected to arrive at the project site within the same period.

"I have proposed that other works be carried out immediately without waiting for the arrival of the equipment. This is to expedite the completion of the project given its urgent needs,” he said.

-- BERNAMA