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Household budget allotment for energy costs

Figures for average household energy expenses are very inexact since frequently only vague answers could be given to the survey questions (tables 8 and 9). In spite of this, however, table 9 illustrates an attempt to establish approximate standard values for household expenses. Households using electricity spend an average of 11-12 ringgit per month.

TABLE 8. Total household income (in ringgit)

Sources: Kuah/Langkawi district office 1980; Pejabat FELDA Kpg. Sendayan and FELDA Kpg. L.B.J. 1980
* Figures not available

TABLE 9. Monthly energy expenses (in ringgit)

Source: Interviews, July-September 1980, March-April 1982

Almost all of this is spent for lighting costs since there are very few electrical appliances besides the television which are used frequently. Until the summer of 1980 monthly costs were almost halved when kerosene was used as lighting fuel; due to the recent kerosene price increases, however, its cost more nearly coincides with that of electricity. Cylinder gas is still the most expensive cooking fuel, costing an average of 16-17 ringgit per month. At 1980 prices, the costs for using kerosene were significantly lower. One must bear in mind, however, that the use of kerosene for cooking is normally combined with the use of firewood. Almost 90 per cent of those households surveyed were able to obtain firewood at no costs. If firewood must be purchased, it becomes a very expensive source of energy. Charcoal was used in the west coast area only occasionally to cook certain dishes; thus monthly charcoal expenses were relatively low, between 4.5 and 5.5 ringgit. In the east coast area charcoal is available as an energy source because of the existence of charcoal kilns which use sawmill waste for charcoal production. The highest energy costs clearly belong to those families who own personal vehicles-36 ringgit per month were to be budgeted for a motorcycle.

Because many of the households surveyed refused to comment about their monthly incomes, only rough estimates concerning the proportion of energy costs to monthly income were possible. Twenty percent is probably a good estimate, because the figure was significantly higher than 20 per cent in both villages on Langkawi and in Seberang Pintasan, whereas it was slightly lower than 20 per cent in both FELDA villages and in the other east coast areas. If one establishes a correlation between the total expenses for energy and available income by using the available figures from a random sample, it becomes evident that energy costs increase proportionately as incomes become higher (a correlation coefficient of r = 0.74566 has been established for this relationship).

Energy supply and the use of alternative energy sources

In conclusion, one must mention certain problems concerning energy supply in the villages analysed (table 10). A relatively high proportion of surveyed households (approximately 38 per cent) had no complaints concerning the current supply situation. Complaints about power failures were quite numerous (approximately 38 per cent). These affected all surveyed villages. Periodic shortages of certain forms of energy (especially kerosene and petrol) were generally limited to the villages on Langkawi, since such shortages are relatively unknown in the FELDA villages. When shortages occur, various measures are taken (table 11). Of those surveyed, 10 per cent tried to procure the missing energy source in neighbouring villages; 33 per cent substituted other available energy for the missing source; and 3 per cent took precautions against possible shortages by hoarding fuel products.

Wishes concerning the improvement of the existing energy supply situation were diverse according to the corresponding conditions (table 12). While almost all households in Langkawi expressed a strong desire to be connected to the public electricity main in the near future, over 85 per cent of those surveyed in both FELDA villages were satisfied with the present situation.

TABLE 10. Energy supply

Source: Interviews, July-September 1980, March-April 1982

TABLE 11. Energy shortage responses

Source: Interviews, July-September 1980, March-April 1982

TABLE 12. Desired improvement in future energy supply

Source: Interviews, July-September 1980
^a One observation missing

There were, however, a few suggestions concerning the replenishment or updating of the electrical appliance supply. A question was included in the survey with the purpose of determining whether the population was aware of alternative energy sources such as solar energy and whether they would be willing to use such energy sources. The majority of those surveyed seemed willing to implement their usage, but only if the cost did not exceed that of currently available forms of energy.

References

Bahrin, T. S., P. D. A. Perera, and H. K. Lim. 1979. Land development and resettlement in Malaysia. FELDA, Kuala Lumpur, 456 pp.

Corvinus, F. 1983. "Strategies for petroleum, substitutes on the Malaysian energy market." Geo Journal, 7 (1): 41-52

------. 1984. "Probleme der Energieversorgung eines tropischen Entwicklungslandes: Das Beispiel Malaysia." In Wolfgang Eriksen, ea., Jahrbuch der geographischen Gesellschaft zu Hannover fur 1984, Geographische Gesellschaft Hannover, Hannover. 317 pp.

Haji Ani bin Arope, and A. Subramaniam. 1980. "The potential of natural rubber as an alternative source of energy." Paper presented at TENAGA 80, 21-23 Aug., Kuala Lumpur.

Hoesni Nasaruddin. 1980. "An approach to mini-hydrodevelopment in Peninsular Malaysia." Paper presented at TENAGA 80, 21-23 Aug., Kuala Lumpur.

Lim, K. O., and R. Ratnalingam. 1980. "Fuel values of some Malaysian vegetation." The Planter, Kuala Lumpur, 56 (Feb. 1980): 46-48

Rahim Bidin, C. N. Chong, and K. H. Chia. 1980. "Rice husk as a source of energy." Paper presented at TENAGA 80, 21-23 Aug., Kuala Lumpur.

Th'ng, Y. H. 1980. "Peninsular Malaysia's hydropower development in the 1980's." Paper presented at TENAGA 80, 21-23 Aug., Kuala Lumpur.

Wong, F. T. 1979. Present land use of Peninsular Malaysia. 2 vols. Department of Agriculture, Kuala Lumpur.

Wong, K. K. 1980. "A soft energy path for Malaysia." Paper presented at TENAGA 80, 21-23 Aug., Kuala Lumpur.

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