Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar emphasized that the electricity tariff increase he announced on Monday targets the industrial sector, and 85% of the people will not be affected.
He stated that starting from July this year, industrial electricity tariffs will be adjusted based on the Imbalance Cost Pass-Through mechanism. However, 85% of the people will not be affected by this increase.
The Prime Minister said this during a question-and-answer session in Parliament, in response to an additional question by Bersatu Member of Parliament for Machang, Wan Fayhsal, who suggested the government was inconsistent on the issue of electricity tariff increases.
He said, "I responded to the request of Datuk Wuyi Ping, the President of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and Industry, yesterday. What was his request? It was regarding the increase in industrial electricity tariffs... understand? This is not against the country or the people."
"I also mentioned that the increase is not as much as the announced 14%, because if we do not increase the charges for the industrial sector or the wealthy, how is the government supposed to increase allocations for schools and hospitals? Where would the funds come from?"
He stated that all parties must accept a reasonable electricity tariff increase for the industrial and affluent groups.
The Prime Minister expressed that in front of business community members yesterday, the increase is implemented reluctantly, and the government will not compromise on the issue of electricity tariff adjustments, and the increase is inevitable, yet this adjustment will not affect 85% of the people.