Decision to not increase electricity tariff shows government's concern for people's welfare - Annuar Musa

JOHOR BAHRU, Jan 29 -- The move not to increase electricity tariffs, which would affect more than nine million domestic consumers in the country,  shows that the government’s main focus is on the welfare of the people, said Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa.

He said the government felt the burden of those  affected by the COVID-19 outbreak which led to many of them losing their job and business, and made worse by the recent floods .

He said it was not an easy decision by the government as it meant the government having to continue to subside the cost of electricity.

"When there is no increase, it means the government has to find other fund to provide subsidy so that Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) remains a 'viable' generator, “ he told reporters after appearing as a guest on a  Johor FM programme at the Johor Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) here today.

Also present were  Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) chief executive officer  Datuk Mokhtar Hussain and Malaysia Broadcasting director-general Datuk Che Roslan Che Daud.

According to Annuar,  after TNB made a recommendation to raise the electricity tariffs for domestic consumers, following the increase in fuel price, the cabinet had held six series of discussions, which led to a final decision made last Wednesday to maintain the electricity tariff rates.

"We have to look at various angles, the shareholders, the sustainability of TNB itself, and after a lengthy discussions, the cabinet under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob opined that the tariff cannot be increased," he added.

Annuar, who is also Ketereh Member of Parliament, said this when asked on the prime minister’s announcement yesterday that there would be no increase in electricity tariffs for the nine million domestic users in the country.

The prime minister also said the government will continue with subsidies of more than RM700 million so that domestic consumers will not be affected.  

-- BERNAMA