Schneider Electric, a global specialist in energy management, announced an initiative to sponsor 90 units of its solar-powered, portable LED lighting and electricity-charging systems for Kampung Orang Asli Mentelong in Kuala Rompin, Pahang (Malaysia), as part of the company’s BipBop programme.
Schneider Electric’s BipBop programme stands for Business, Innovation & People at the Base of the Pyramid and it promote sustainable access to energy.
Group Photo: Schneider Electric Employees, JAKOA Officers, Villagers from Kampung MentelongThe Schneider Electric Mobiya TS 120S portable Solar LED lighting systems, which provide safe, green and reliable access to energy were recently distributed to the homes of 48 Orang Asli families in Kampung Mentelong to address their electricity needs in a sustainable way. The Mobiya lights can also be used to charge mobile phones through a USB port.
Soo Pow Leong, Malaysia Country President, Schneider Electric said, “Access to electricity is a basic requirement for all people. However, while working with the Orang Asli Development Department (JAKOA), we have learned that there is still a significant number of communities in Malaysia with limited or no access to electricity at all. This situation has to be addressed because without basic infrastructure, and electricity in particular, people living in these communities do not have the same access to learning and income generation facilities, which perpetuates poor living conditions.”
Under its BipBop programme in Malaysia, Schneider Electric has partnered with Orang Asli Development Department (JAKOA) to tackle the daily struggle of Orang Asli communities who live in remote areas and do not have reliable and constant access to electricity and light. With the help from JAKOA, Schneider Electric has identified the community in Kampung Mentelong as first in line to receive the help through its BipBop programme.
Due to its remote location in the jungle – a 45 minute off-road jeep ride from the village is required to reach the nearest town – the community of 48 families in Kampung Mentelong face an enormous challenge with electricity access. Currently, they rely on petrol-powered generators for their electricity needs, which makes the electricity and light precious and useable only at certain hours of the day.
“With Schneider Electric’s Mobiya lights, which are powered via solar panels, the people in Kampung Orang Asli Mentelong will be able to significantly extend their hours of productivity and learning, since these lamps provide up to 48 hours of lighting with one day of solar charge,” said Abdul Rahman, Unit Head of Jabatan Kamajuan Orang Asli Pahang. “Electricity is precious to these villagers as most can’t afford either the power generators or the cost of running them, which comes to about one litre of petrol for only 4 hours of electricity”, he added.
“The children will benefit the most from this sponsorship since their studying hours are now significantly extended. However, the villagers who work in the woods will also find these lamps very useful, especially when they need to get up very early in the morning or when they are coming back home very late. We are thankful for the strong support from Schneider Electric in enabling JAKOA to serve more people in the Orang Asli community and we are looking forward to a long-term collaboration,” he concluded.
Launched in 2009, the aim of the Schneider Electric’s BipBop programme is to help resolve the issue of energy access. This global programme was introduced to help champion the cause of changing lives through access to energy and to help address the needs of 1.3 billion people worldwide who do not have access to electricity. Schneider Electric plans to expand the BipBop programme in Malaysia in order to support more Orang Asli villages in the country wherever they face difficulties with electricity access.