SANDAKAN – Rampant cable theft is one of the main reasons street lights here have been faulty for many years, said a Sandakan municipal councillor.
Robert Chong told Scoop that this is based on reports that he received from the municipal council’s electrical unit and the state Public Works Department.
“Irresponsible people keep stealing cables from the panel boxes. When a panel box is faulty, it means that about 10 street lights will stop working.
“We (the council) are aware of the problem, and we have been taking action, the people know it. The people also know that functioning street lights would only last for less than a month before they stop working again.
“Cable theft – this is the reason.”
Sandakan’s federal roads totalling 69.58km in length have 1,682 street lights, not including roads under the purview of the state or municipal council.
The district’s faulty street lights have become more pervasive since last year, with most of the roads leading to the town area unlit after dark.
Locals often joke about how street lights here are just for decoration, despite elected representatives highlighting the issue multiple times a year.
Last year, Elopura assemblyman Calvin Chong said he found that more than 70% of street lights here no longer function, and that the problem has been going on for years.
In February this year, the federal Works Ministry told Sandakan MP Vivian Wong in the Dewan Rakyat that it would provide allocation in stages to repair street lights.
About RM500,000 is needed to fully restore and maintain street lights in the district, but the ministry said it was only able to allocate RM60,000 at the time.
In April this year, Sandakan police busted Geng Nudin, which was involved in at least 16 cases of cable theft committed since January.
Councillor Chong said for the time being, the municipal council has been working on a temporary solution, which is to increase security and lock up the panel boxes.
“But we know that this is a short-term solution. The best and sustainable solution is to change our street lights to solar lights – no cables, low maintenance cost, and no panel boxes.”
He added that the council’s electrical unit has to take care of street lights up until Mile 32, as well as all electrical appliances in halls and public places under its purview.
Meanwhile, Karamunting representative George Hiew has been using part of his allocation as an assemblyman to install solar street lights in his constituency, and has put up 300 solar lights so far.
“I wish to gradually transform my constituency to a safer and brighter place for residents and road users. We know that the street lights here are often damaged. I hope these solar lights can become a backup solution.
“The safety of my constituents is my top priority. But, the (municipal council and Public Works Department) are still responsible to repair and maintain all street lights in Sandakan,” he told Scoop. – September 18, 2023