Power Tariff Increase Will Hurt Consumers

PETALING JAYA: A tariff hike by Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) will burden consumers who are already pressured due to price increase on other daily essential goods, said Consumers Association of Subang and Shah Alam’s (CASSA) honorary secretary, Jacob George.

“It will definitely have a major impact on Malaysian families. Even now, many cannot cope with the high cost of living and are paying utility bills with credit cards.

“And utility bills are not something to be paid using credit cards,” said an irate George.

Yesterday, TNB president Azman Mohd said the utility company is looking at increasing power tariff, but stressed that it would not burden consumers.

Sale of Independent Power Producers Queried

PETALING JAYA: PKR today demanded an explanation on Putrajaya’s alleged move to purchase two independent power producers (IPPs), Tanjung Energy Holdings Sdn Bhd and Mastika Lagenda Sdn Bhd, at a high price.

The two firms are owned by Tanjung Energy Holdings Sdn Bhd and Mastika Lagenda Sdn Bhd, owned by Ananda Krishnan and Genting Bhd respectively. Both are said to have connections with the government.

The party’s communication director Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said the deal had resulted in Ananda and Genting walking away with a profit of RM1.9 billion when it was paid RM8.5 billion for the Tanjong deal in March, and another RM2.55 billion for the 75% stake owned by Genting Sangyen in Mastika Lagenda last month.

The deal was made through 1Malaysia Development Bhd, a fund set up by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak himself.