In a statement, Tangau said the subsidy payment was received on Monday. He thanked the federal government “for being attentive to our needs and requests, allowing Sabah Electricity to continue supplying power to the state”.

Sabah Electricity generates only 20% of the state’s power, relying on independent power producers for the remaining 80% at a higher cost, creating a financial gap covered by federal subsidies.

Tangau said the state government had allocated almost RM51 million as an additional ICPT subsidy to ease the burden on consumers. “As announced by the Sabah chief minister on Dec 20, the exemption from the ICPT surcharge will continue from January 1 to June 30,” he said.

Tangau, who is also Tuaran MP, had warned in November that Sabah could face a statewide blackout from next January without financial support from the federal government.