KUCHING: Residents of Jalan Laruh in Satok yesterday voiced their unhappiness by the recent power surge which they claimed had caused many of their electrical appliances to malfunction.They said last Saturday power surge destroyed so many electrical appliances like television sets, air conditioners, fridges, water pumps and light bulbs, causing thousands of ringgit in damages.

They believed  the  powers surge were the result of the work of some irresponsible people who vandalised the sub-station in the area.

Unfortunately, they said the authority had  been slow in addressing the matter.

A resident, who only wants to be known as Pojee, said last Saturday power surge had cost him a fridge, Internet modem and water heater, and he had lodged a police report on the matter.

According to him, although the power station had been repaired, residents are still wondering who should be responsible for the damage done to their electrical items.

“I’m losing my patience over the power surge on Saturday because some of the items damaged are still new,” said Pojee.

Another resident, Is, told The Borneo Post that the power station in their area is a favourite location for glue sniffers and bad hats.

“The area is badly lit too, so it’s attracting all the wrong kind of people,” said Is.

“I suggest that Sesco beef up security around the affected sub-stations around the state as vandalism is real. You can see its outcome,” said Is.

Another resident Jalimah Julaihi, 49, said her family lost electrical items worth more than RM6,000 in last Saturday incident and another one on the first day of Raya last September.

She said the saddest part was seeing more than 30 goldfish die because the water pump also got damaged by the power surge.

She also said she now has to wash using her hands because the washing machine was also spoiled in the incident.

The Borneo Post contacted Sesco’s 24-hour technical line yesterday and a spokesperson said they had received the complaint on Saturday morning.

No detailed information on the complaint could be obtained from the spokesman who said the person-in-charge was not in.