GoRental Global Lights Up Learning Journey Of Orang Asli Children In Kampung Sat

SUNGKAI, Sept 4 (Bernama) -- The absence of electricity previously forced some Orang Asli children in Kampung Sat, Sungkai, to put aside their books after sunset, leaving little time to revise lessons and complete school assignments.

The situation was particularly challenging for Orang Asli families residing in traditional houses made of wood and bamboo, making routine daily activities difficult once night fell.

But those days are gradually changing with GoRental Global’s #PowerToEmpower initiative, which provides solar power systems and portable batteries that store energy generated during the day for use after sunset.

Kampung Orang Asli Sat Tok Batin (village headman) Yok Raman A/L Yok Ankeh, 49, said the village is home to about 350 members of the Semai Orang Asli community, with electricity currently available in around 22 concrete houses.

He said some families were still living in traditional houses, including those with school-going children, making reliable lighting particularly important for studying and carrying out daily activities after sunset.

“I would greatly appreciate it if any agency could help the Orang Asli community, as getting electricity connected to these traditional houses is not easy.

“With this kind of help, at least families without electricity can use it for their daily needs, especially the children who need to do their schoolwork at night,” he said when met by Bernama here today.

Yok Raman said some residents had bought small solar systems themselves to have lighting at night, but the equipment did not last long and was easily damaged.

He said the solar system from GoRental Global was especially helpful to families still living in traditional houses, where getting conventional electricity was difficult because some of the homes were built using wood and bamboo.

Another recipient, Bah Kosong A/L Ahmad, 36, said the assistance had made a big difference to his family, particularly his children, who could now study and finish their schoolwork at night.

“At night, my child can use the light to do schoolwork, and we can use it when cooking. We can also charge our phones and other devices through USB. It’s really helpful because before this, we didn’t have electricity in the house,” he said.

Through GoRental Global’s #PowerToEmpower initiative, 10 portable battery energy storage systems (BESS) were installed to support families in Kampung Sat, providing the community with a much-needed source of power where access to electricity remains limited.

GoRental Global founder and managing director Colin Peh said the system harnesses solar energy generated during the day and stores it in batteries for use after sunset, mainly for lighting, charging mobile devices and meeting other basic needs.

“Sometimes we take electricity for granted. But when you don’t have it, even simple things like switching on the lights, charging your phone or letting the children study at night can be a challenge. That’s what we’re trying to help with through this initiative.

“For us, what matters most is making sure these families have something safer and more reliable, especially after sunset. It’s not just about giving them the equipment. We want them to have power they can use every day, and hopefully it will make things a little easier for families who don’t have easy access to electricity,” he said.

Colin said the company hopes to bring the model to about 200 families within two years, particularly those living in rural communities and areas where access to the electricity grid remains limited, including Sarawak.

He said the system can last for up to about 6,000 charging cycles, potentially giving it a lifespan of almost 12 years, while also reducing fuel dependency among communities that rely on generators for power.

Colin said the initiative in Kampung Sat was GoRental Global’s first project in Malaysia and part of an effort to develop a community energy model that could be used in locations with limited access to conventional electricity grids.

The system is projected to generate about 43,800 kilowatt-hours of renewable energy over a 10-year period, potentially avoiding around 120 tonnes of carbon emissions and reducing reliance on diesel and kerosene.

According to Colin, the project was developed with community partner Kenneth Toon of New Life Restoration Centre and his wife, Ann Toon, who helped connect the company with residents and identify the community’s needs before the project was implemented.

The Kampung Sat initiative is the latest under GoRental Global’s #PowerToEmpower programme, following an earlier project in Huay Nam Rin Village, Chiang Mai, Thailand, involving 31 battery systems and 60 solar panels.

GoRental Global plans to expand the #PowerToEmpower initiative to other communities in Malaysia, including Sarawak, before extending it to other parts of Southeast Asia.

-- BERNAMA