Kampung sat: 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.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, 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 mentioned that 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.
Yok Raman expressed the community's need for assistance, hoping agencies could help connect electricity to traditional homes. He highlighted that with such help, families without electricity could fulfill daily needs, especially the children who need to do their schoolwork at night. Some residents had previously purchased small solar systems for night lighting, but these systems did not last long and were easily damaged.
The solar system from GoRental Global has been especially helpful to families in traditional houses, offering a solution where getting conventional electricity was difficult. Another recipient, Bah Kosong A/L Ahmad, 36, noted the significant difference this assistance made, particularly for his children who could now study and complete schoolwork at night. The system allows them to use light for cooking and charge phones and other devices through USB.
GoRental Global founder and managing director Colin Peh explained that the system harnesses solar energy generated during the day and stores it in batteries for use after sunset, mainly for lighting and charging mobile devices. Colin emphasized the importance of providing safer and more reliable energy solutions, especially for families lacking easy access to electricity.
Colin hopes to extend the model to about 200 families over two years, focusing on rural communities with limited electricity access, including Sarawak. The system can last for up to 6,000 charging cycles, offering a lifespan of nearly 12 years and reducing fuel dependency. The initiative in Kampung Sat marks GoRental Global's first project in Malaysia and aims to develop a community energy model for areas with limited conventional electricity.
The system is projected to generate about 43,800 kilowatt-hours of renewable energy over a decade, potentially avoiding around 120 tonnes of carbon emissions. Colin noted 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 community needs before implementation.