TNB Launches Electrical Safety Campaign To Prevent Accidents Among Planters, Farmers And Public

PARIT, Sept 8 (Bernama) -- Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) has launched an Electrical Safety Campaign targeting oil palm smallholders, paddy farmers and the public to address the risk of accidents caused by electric shocks in rural areas.

Deputy Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA) Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said the initiative aims to raise awareness and understanding of safe practices when working near power lines.

“Based on collected data, 84 cases, or 81 per cent, of electrical accidents involving the public and livestock between 2021 and April 2025 were linked to TNB infrastructure. Many incidents were caused by activities near the lines, such as harvesting oil palm fruit using long poles.

“TNB power lines often run through plantations or smallholdings. While this normally poses no issue, risks arise when planters and farmers are not careful while crossing under the lines to move from one area to another,” he said after launching the campaign at Dewan Felcra Nasaruddin Belia, Bota, Perak.

He said the campaign will be extended to every state to ensure target groups fully understand the risks of TNB power lines, thereby reducing future accidents.

Also present were Felcra Bhd Perak state director M. Zaiful Anuar Zulkifli, Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) Smallholders Development and Certification Division director Dr Mohd Hefni Rusly, TNB chief regulatory and stakeholder management officer Datuk Shamsul Ahmad, TNB chief sustainability officer Leo Pui Yong, and Energy Commission strategic planning and communications director Rumaizi Abdul Halim.

Akmal Nasrullah further said the Malaysia Energy Literacy Programme (MELP), initiated by TNB before being adopted by his ministry, serves as a central reference for various aspects of energy literacy such as energy efficiency, electrical safety, energy transition and tariff understanding.

“Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, in his capacity as PETRA minister, launched the MELP website at a monthly ministry gathering,” he said, adding that he hopes the site, which compiles energy-related initiatives, will benefit the public by encouraging informed decision-making.

Meanwhile, oil palm settler Mohd Yusof Mat Hussain, 64, said his knowledge of the risks of power lines had previously been limited, but the campaign had greatly improved his understanding.

“So far, I have not experienced dangerous situations in the plantation, though some incidents occurred at home. With this campaign, my knowledge of electricity and its hazards has grown.

“I urge fellow planters here and elsewhere to attend such programmes to learn about electrical hazards and prevent accidents,” said Mohd Yusof, who has managed a plantation at Felcra for over 40 years.

A tractor supervisor with the Perak Farmers’ Organisation, Mohamad Azmirul Hakimi Azmi, 20, said farmers must be constantly reminded to exercise caution near power lines.

“For example, when we plough paddy fields under power lines, TNB always advises us not to go too close as it is dangerous. We usually avoid passing directly under substations, and during rainy weather, we stop ploughing altogether,” he said.

For more information on MELP, visit www.melp.my.

-- BERNAMA