LAWAS: The Sarawak government has tasked state-owned energy development group, Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB), with accelerating the initiative to light up rural areas in Sarawak.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the decision to appoint SEB to take over the rural electrification programme was in light of cuts to federal funding for the purpose.

“We don’t have as much federal funds for this purpose, and the state government has decided to appoint SEB (Sarawak Energy) to take over these village road projects and rural electrification programme, where RM2.3 billion has been allocated,” he spoke during a breaking-of-fast event hosted by SEB for orphans and individuals with special needs, here on Saturday.

With the appointment, Awang Tengah said he hoped SEB would be able to roll out its ‘Northern Agenda’ programme without delay – to connect the districts of Limbang and Lawas to the state power grid, while pursuing the rural electrification drive.

He said the corporation had come a long way to become a professionally-run company providing good infrastructure and reliable power generation, which had powered industrial and economic development in the state, thus boosting Sarawak’s industrialisation drive.

He also lauded the corporation on its philosophy of giving back to the less-fortunate group during the festive seasons, saying: “A successful corporation is defined not only by profits and losses, but also by its social contributions.”

He added that SEB had undertaken scores of corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects, such as actively helping the communities in Murum and Baleh even before the completion of hydroelectricity power dams in the two areas.

Earlier in his speech, SEB group chief executive officer Datu Sharbini Suhaili said the corporation had undertaken several initiatives, including the Northern Agenda, to connect both Limbang and Lawas to the state grid for a more comprehensive and cleaner energy source.

According to him, SEB is also venturing into green energy with production of hydrogen fuel cells as an alternative energy source, with the plant expected to be commissioned today.

Among those present at the event were Awang Tengah’s wife Datuk Dayang Morliah Awang Daud, Lawas MP Datuk Henry Sum Agong, and Limbang Resident Ahmad Denney Ahmad Fauzi.