ECoS asked to take action on genset fee issue
Junz Wong
KOTA KINABALU (May 19): Warisan vice president Datuk Junz Wong has fired back at the Energy Commission of Sabah (ECoS), calling on the regulatory body to take immediate action against contractors who have been charging exorbitant fees related to genset licensing fees that have gone viral and stirred widespread public anger.
In response to ECoS CEO Datuk Ir Abdul Nasser Abdul Wahid's recent statement denying that the commission imposed high charges, Wong questioned why ECoS remained silent while such quotations, reaching up to RM25,000 for two gensets, were being charged by so called 'third party' or 'runners'?
'If ECoS claims these are not their charges, then why the delay in taking action against the 'runner' contractors or consultants involved? Why allow such practices to go unchecked and let Sabahans continue to suffer confusion and financial burden?' he asked.
Wong demanded clarity on whether these contractors were appointed or approved by ECoS.
'If they are acting under your approval, then ECoS must bear responsibility. If not, then come out clearly and act against them for misleading the public and overcharging Sabahans,' he said.
Wong also questioned the timing of ECoS's enforcement of the license fees, noting that genset owners had not been charged such fees for years under federal control.
'Now that energy regulation has been handed back to Sabah, a move fought for and delivered by Warisan under MA63, instead of celebrating this with reforms and better services, Sabahans are being penalized with new license charges. Why now? Why burden the very people who have been forced to rely on gensets due to SESB's failure to provide stable electricity?' he said.
Wong pointed out that the core issue lies in the state's unstable and insufficient power supply, which has driven many businesses to purchase gensets to survive. 'Sabahan restaurant owners, and manufacturers didn't buy gensets for no reason, they bought them out of desperation, just to keep their businesses running through frequent blackouts.'
'To now impose license fees on these gensets without fixing the root cause, is totally ridiculous. If SESB and ECoS cannot provide stable and affordable electricity, then do not punish the people for trying to survive.'
He urged ECoS to not only act against contractors but also come clean about the rationale for enforcing the standard genset fees now, after years of non-collection. 'Don't just explain what the fee structure is, explain why it's suddenly being enforced, and why Sabahans were not informed earlier.'
Wong concluded by urging the GRS-PH state government to stop hiding behind technicalities and start prioritizing the people. 'Sabahans deserve better, help them meet their needs, ease their suffering, not add to their burdens.'
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