– extracted and adapted from RAKAN Sarawak October-December 2021 –
The State Government through the Ministry of Utilities, Sarawak are implementing grid and non-grid rural electrification projects to achieve the vision of full electrification throughout Sarawak by 2025.
However, while some of the rural projects were completed, there are houses under construction then or new houses built later that were not connected.
Hence to assist and reduce the financial burden of these rural households for access to 24-hour basic necessity of electricity, Additional or Late Applicant Fund (ALAF) was introduced in 2018.
ALAF is a continuous on-going program implemented in stages to connect these households.
Background on ALAF:
When it was introduced: 2018
Objective: To connect late or new rural households with 24-hour electricity supply after rural electrification projects were completed
Total number of users: 23, 000 households have benefited under ALAF (since 2018)
Cost: RM80 million allocated under Projek Rakyat for the purpose of ALAF
Implementing agency: Sarawak Energy
ALAF is undertaken through the Ministry of Utilities with Sarawak Energy as the implementing agency.
The programme is also undertaken in close collaboration with the Resident and District Offices, other government agencies elected representatives and community leader to ensure smooth implementation.
To improve project delivery for ALAF, processes improvements review was undertaken and this includes appointing consultants to perform site survey work to identify those late or new applicants eligible for connection under ALAF prior to physical implementation through appointed contractors.
Eligible applicants will be supplied through single-phase supply.
Eligibility for applying ALAF:
- Domestic premises with rooms, kitchens and facilities safe and suitable for dwelling
- Commercial or industrial premises (e.g. shops, farmhouse, inn, workshops etc) are not eligible.
- Store, small huts and other non-dwelling premises are not eligible
- Unsafe premises (e.g. buildings made of zinc, asbestos) are not eligible
The implementing agency, Sarawak Energy (SEB), undertakes site survey works through consultants that include design supply scheme.
SEB with a panel of dedicated contractors aims to accelerate the implementation of ALAF.
