No plans to raise electricity tariffs
BY ZARINAH DAUDKEPALA BATAS: The Government does not have any immediate plan to increase electricity tariffs although the cost of power production is rising, said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
The Prime Minister said the Government also did not plan to increase the rates of other public utilities so as to not burden the people.
“The increase in tariffs and other public utilities will not happen right now. Not so soon,” he said after attending the Kepala Batas MCA and Gerakan divisions' joint open house at Dewan Milenium here yesterday.
Abdullah said Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) and other utility companies should provide the best service for the people and it would be unwise to increase the tariffs if their service was not up to customers’ satisfaction.
“It is a matter of principle. If you want to increase the tariffs, you must provide the best for your customers,” he said.
However, he reminded the public that any price increase in the future was inevitable if TNB and other utility companies continued to suffer additional costs of production.
“The question of an increase cannot be avoided if the cost of production keeps on increasing. We cannot be enjoying low tariffs forever and therefore have to expect an increase. All these facilities require huge investments.”
Abdullah was commenting on a report quoting Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik as saying that the people must be prepared to accept an increase in electricity tariffs.
Dr Lim had on Thursday said that TNB did not have sufficient funds to replace old equipment as the cost of producing and supplying power had gone up whereas tariffs had remained unchanged.
On a report that several National Registration Department (NRD) officials had been detained for working with syndicates to sell NRD documents to foreigners, Abdullah said such crimes could not be forgiven and the officers should be dealt with accordingly.
He, however, clarified that the officials were caught for the issuance of Permanent Resident cards and not the high-security MyKad as reported.
“It is morally and legally wrong and the police are investigating the case. Those found guilty must be penalised because their action is a serious offence and against the law,” he said.
He also said that civil servants must uphold the dignity of their profession and deliver their best to the public.
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