KOTA KINABALU: A one-day special Sabah state assembly session saw the state government taking over regulatory authority over power supply from the Federal Government.

       Sabah lawmakers on Wednesday (Jan 3) unanimously passed two laws: The Sabah Energy Commission Enactment 2023 (Amendment 2024) and the Electricity Supply Enactment Bill 2024, which would allow the state to map out its energy policies and regulations independently.

       The state assembly also gave the green light on the Sabah Renewable Energy Enactment Bill 2024, allowing the state to explore and implement green energy initiatives.

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       All three Bills were tabled by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, who described their passing by lawmakers as “historic”.

       “It gives total regulatory control of the energy sector in Sabah through the Energy Commission of Sabah (ECoS),” he told the August house.

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       The Federal Government, in discussions with the state government earlier last year, agreed to hand over regulatory control back to the state in line with the negotiations under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

       Sabah handed over its regulatory powers to the federal government in 1984 in hopes of the latter providing funds to improve power generation through larger infrastructure in the state.