Versi Bahasa Melayu

TAWAU: Kerajaan negeri akan memantau kesan kenaikan tarif elektrik kepada pengguna  berikutan pelaksanaan semakan semula kadar sedia ada di Sabah dan Labuan bermula 1  Februari 2026. 

Ketua Menteri, Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor, bagaimanapun berkata kenaikan yang  dialami pengguna hanya sedikit dan tidak membebankan mereka. 

"Kita akan sentiasa melihat kesannya, tapi saya ingat kesannya cuma sedikit. Kalau sekarang  seorang itu membayar RM100, dia cuma tambah mungkin RM15 saja. Jadi, tidaklah  membebankan sangat kalau RM15 kita dapat elektrik yang bagus, jadi ini rasionalnya (kenaikan  tarif)," katanya kepada pemberita selepas merasmikan Sekolah Agama Negeri (SAN) Apas  Balung yang baharu di Taman Sawit, Balung pada Ahad. 

Beliau ditanya mengenai pelaksanaan semakan semula tarif elektrik Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd  (SE) bermula 1 Februari 2026 yang menyaksikan pelarasan kadar tarif daripada kadar purata  asas 34.52 sen/kWj kepada 39.70 sen/kWj. 

Ketua Menteri menjelaskan kadar baharu itu telah diluluskan oleh Jemaah Menteri dengan  mengambil kira keperluan yang ada di Sabah sekarang. 

"Tarif di Sabah agak rendah berbanding di Semenanjung, kita cuma naik lima sen atau 15  peratus saja dan ianya tidak begitu membebankan kepada rakyat biasa yang mungkin sekitar  70 peratus hingga 80 peratus di Sabah ini. 

"Perkara ini tidak dapat dielak kerana kita menanggung kos yang tinggi, bermacam-macam  sekarang ini. Jadi ianya perlu untuk kita mengatasi semua ini," katanya. 

Hajiji memaklumkan, ketika ini Kerajaan Persekutuan memberi subsidi untuk bekalan elektrik di  Sabah yang berjumlah lebih kurang RM700 juta setahun atau RM3.5 bilion dalam tempoh lima  tahun. 

"Jadi kita tidak boleh berterusan begini. Kalau naik sedikit begitu hanya lima sen, itu boleh  mengurangkan subsidi yang diberi oleh Kerajaan Persekutuan," katanya. 

Beliau berkata, Kabinet Negeri bersetuju atas cadangan dikemukakan Energy Commission of  Sabah (ECoS) dan SE selepas mengambil kira peningkatan kos operasi janaan tenaga di negeri  ini. 

Sementara itu, mengenai SAN Apas Balung, Hajiji berkata, beliau tertarik atas usaha membina  sekolah itu yang siap dalam masa tiga bulan hasil sumbangan pelbagai pihak sebagai  permulaan untuk pembinaan sekolah berkenaan sebelum disusuli bantuan kerajaan untuk  membesarkannya.

Katanya, beliau juga tertarik dengan inisiatif pengurusan sekolah berkenaan menggunakan  teknologi Kecerdasan Buatan (AI) sejajar perkembangan semasa dalam bidang pendidikan. 

"Saya tertarik hati, ini sekolah agama yang pertama menggunakan AI, ia sangat menarik. Inilah  zaman yang kita hadapi pada masa akan datang ini, teknologinya serba canggih dan bukan saja  di sekolah biasa, tapi di sekolah agama juga. 

Katanya, kerajaan negeri juga menyokong cadangan pengurusan sekolah itu untuk mewujudkan  sekolah menengah agama sebagai kesinambungan pendidikan agama yang diikuti oleh  pelajarnya. 

"Ianya satu cadangan yang cukup baik kerana bagi kita sekolah menengah agama perlu  diperluaskan lagi atau ditambah lagi bilangan di Sabah kerana keperluan masyarakat Islam  amat tinggi untuk belajar di sekolah menengah agama. Jadi perancangan itu cukup baik,  sekolah menengah dan seterusnya mungkin universiti Islam dan sebagainya," katanya. 

Hadir sama Menteri Kerajaan Tempatan dan Perumahan merangkap EXCO Agama negeri,  Datuk Dr. Haji Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif; Menteri Pendidikan, Sains, Teknologi dan Inovasi negeri,  Datuk James Ratib dan Menteri Pembangunan Belia, Kemajuan Sukan dan Ekonomi Kreatif  negeri, Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan. 

Sementara itu, Hajiji yang menunaikan solat Zohor di Masjid Al-Ansar, Taman Sawit Balung,  turut menyampaikan sumbangan daripada Bahagian Zakat kepada asnaf yang layak. 

Tamat

English version

TAWAU: The state government will monitor the impact of the electricity tariff increase on  consumers following the implementation of the rate review in Sabah and Labuan, effective  February 1, 2026. 

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor said the increase experienced by  consumers would be minimal and not burdensome. 

"We will constantly monitor the impact, but I believe the effect is only slight. If one currently pays  RM100, the increase is only be about RM15. So, it is not very burdensome if an additional RM15  ensures a stable electricity supply , that is the rationale behind the tariff hike," he told reporters  after officiating the Apas Balung State Religious School (SAN) at Taman Sawit Balung on  Sunday.  

He was responding to questions regarding the Sabah Electricity (SE) tariff review beginning February 1, 2026, which involves an adjustment from an average base rate of 34.52 sen/kWh to  39.70 sen/kWh. 

The Chief Minister explained that the new rate was approved by the State Cabinet, taking into  account the current needs in Sabah. 

"Tariffs in Sabah are relatively low compared to Peninsular Malaysia. We are only increasing it  by five sen or 15 percent, which is not very burdensome for the ordinary citizens who make up  about 70 to 80 percent of the population in Sabah. 

"This is unavoidable because we are bearing high costs for various factors now. It is necessary  for us to overcome these challenges," he said. 

Hajiji said that the Federal Government currently provides an electricity subsidy for Sabah  amounting to approximately RM700 million annually or RM3.5 billion over five years. 

"We cannot continue this way indefinitely. A small increase of five sen can help reduce the  subsidies provided by the Federal Government," he added. 

He said that the State Cabinet agreed to the proposal submitted by the Energy Commission of  Sabah (ECoS) and SESB after considering the rising operational costs of power generation in  the state.  

Meanwhile, regarding SAN Apas Balung, Hajiji said he was impressed by the efforts to build the  school, which was completed in just three months through contributions from various parties.  This serves as a beginning for the school's development, which will be followed by government  assistance for future expansion.

He said he was also impressed by the school management's initiative to utilise Artificial  Intelligence (AI), in line with current developments in education. 

"I am impressed. This is the first religious school to use AI. This is the era we are moving into where technology is highly advanced, and this applies not just to regular schools but to religious  schools as well. 

Hajiji said that the State Government also supports the school management's proposal to  establish a religious secondary school to ensure the continuity of religious education for its  students. 

"It is an excellent proposal because we believe religious secondary schools need to be expanded  or increased in Sabah, as the demand from the Muslim community for religious secondary  education is very high. Thus, the planning is very good, secondary schools, and perhaps  eventually an Islamic university and so on," he added. 

Also in attendance were the Minister of Local Government and Housing and State Religious  EXCO, Datuk Dr. Haji Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif; State Minister of Education, Science, Technology,  and Innovation, Datuk James Ratib and the State Minister of Youth, Sports Development and  Creative Economy, Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan. 

Later, the Chief Minister who performed Zohor prayers at the Al-Ansar Mosque in Taman Sawit  Balung, also presented contributions from the Zakat Division to eligible needy recipients.  

Ends