KUCHING, Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has urged a restructuring of Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) to support the state’s ambitious plans for energy growth and regional expansion.
He said SEB’s board should review the state’s Electricity Ordinance — which governs the utility — to explore setting up a dedicated entity focused on boosting energy production for wider markets. “I leave it to the SEB board to study this matter, and I hope to receive a proposal paper by year-end,” Abang Johari said at SEB’s Vendors Excellence Awards 2025 Night on Friday.
The premier noted that the restructuring aligns with Sarawak’s goals of achieving 10 gigawatts (GW) of energy generation capacity by 2030 and 15GW by 2035, in line with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s vision of positioning Sarawak as a key hub in the Asean power grid. “The prime minister has identified Sarawak as a central player in the Asean energy grid. We are already working towards this, with plans to supply power to southern Philippines once our mission to supply Sabah is completed by year-end,” he said.
Abang Johari also disclosed that SEB is finalising talks to export electricity to Brunei, while efforts are underway to expand supply to Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, ultimately forming a regional energy loop.
He added that this expansion will create fresh opportunities for SEB vendors to tap into Asean markets, but stressed that it will also require a larger pool of skilled talent. “This is why professionalism among vendors is critical. Once you meet SEB’s standards, the opportunities will come. It’s equally important for the vendor ecosystem to keep pace with SEB’s expectations,” he said.
