Come every general election, political parties approach the indigenous peoples of Malaysia for support in return for a promise to fulfil one of their very basic needs - electricity.

But for most of these people who pledge their votes, their simple wish for proper lighting in their homes at night is often never realised.

This was a recurring theme during a sharing session last night, organised by a group known as Lightup Borneo, comprising volunteers who undertake mini-hydroelectric projects in Sabah and Sarawak.

The group's spokesperson, Liang Tian Shen, said the Sabah government in its 2012 Budget promised 100 percent electricity coverage, which remains nothing more than a pipe dream.

Enter Lightup Borneo, a group that has initiated 13 mini-hydroelectricity projects in Sabah and Sarawak, bringing light to hundreds of houses.

One of the group's biggest success story has been at Long Pasia in Sabah, where Malaysia's first floating mini-hydroelectricity turbine, capable of producing 3kW of power - enough to power lights, a television and a fridge in six houses - was set up.

Taking matters into their own hands

Long Pasia is one of the most remote parts of Malaysia, a four-hour off-road ride south from the small town of Sipitang.

Pangiran Salutan, a member of the Long Pasia tourism committee, told the sharing session that the community - comprising those from the Lun Bawang tribe - sought help from the authorities many times before, but to no avail.
 
"We always put our hopes on promises that were never fulfilled... The authorities help only during the election period but ignore us after that.

"So do the opposition parties. They go missing-in-action, they disappear after the election," said Pangiran.

Liang said that Lightup Borneo's mission is to let the people know that they cannot always rely on the government and the people do have the ability to achieve great feats on their own.
 
"If the government is not doing something about it, then we will do it... We want to give a message to the people that we are doing something for the them," he said.

Lightup Borneo believes that electricity will help indigenous communities be better connected with the rest of the world and help create greater awareness of the indigenous peoples and their rights.

The group is supported by the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall.