Orang Asli village near KL still struggles with electricity despite solar projects
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 2 — As the sun sets over Kampung Orang Asli Sg Relang, a devouring darkness comes with the stret...
Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Relang, situated just 500 meters from Kuala Lumpur's KL-Karak Highway, continues to grapple with its lack of electricity, despite the presence of solar-powered lamps and off-grid renewable energy systems. The village, home to 12 households and approximately 50 residents, has been without electricity for quite some time, with only 12 out of 116 Orang Asli villages in Malaysia having access to it as of 2024.
The difficulty in electrifying the village largely lies in its size and the cost of laying transmission lines. Additionally, off-grid renewable energy systems, such as solar panels connected to battery packs, are often the most practical solution for villages of this size. However, these systems require a different approach from conventional energy projects.
Organizations like the SOLS Foundation have made efforts to improve the village's electricity situation. In July, they provided the villagers with solar-powered lamps and battery packs, funded by Google. However, these efforts have been met with limited success, as the villagers remain at Tier 1 of the World Bank's electricity access tiers, capable of powering only a few hours of lamps and charging devices.
The village's history is marked by past energy projects that have since fallen into disuse. A hydro-solar microgrid, installed in 2012 by Tonibung, a Sabah-based NGO, ceased operation due to floods in 2014, which were deemed financially infeasible to repair. Similarly, an off-grid solar energy system installed by Times-Lite Electrical Engineering in 2018 was handed over to the Selangor Economic Planning Unit, but its ongoing maintenance and operation have not been guaranteed.
The villagers face significant challenges in maintaining a stable electrical supply, including the absence of refrigerators and freezers, which makes food storage difficult. Some residents, like Otok Singgah, must travel long distances to purchase fresh meat or consume alternative food sources like cassava leaves when money is scarce.
Written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
