(ABOVE: Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd staff disconnecting an illegal supply to a squatter home.)

KOTA KINABALU, MALAYSIA - It is not just a shortage of electricity supply in Sabah that is causing frequent power outages in the state capital and its suburbs.

At least three short circuits a day are caused by squatters tapping electricity.

Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd corporate communications officer Darrel Lorimer Peter said short circuits destroy fuse boxes in the utility company's transmission towers, cutting off power to nearby areas.

Yesterday, SESB disconnected the illegal supply to about 100 squatter homes.