No increase in electricity tariff for domestic consumers, PM assures

The government has no plans to raise the electricity tariff for domestic consumers, to avoid burdening the people, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says.

He said the decision also involved small and medium industries, agricultural companies and food producers even though it would give the country financial implications of almost RM30 billion a year.

"If it is raised, it will only be for multinational companies as the current tariff is too low for them and such a subsidy should not be given to giant companies making huge profits.

"As for the people (domestic consumers), the government has no plans whatsoever to raise the electricity tariff," he told a press conference after chairing a Cabinet meeting in Putrajaya today.

However, Anwar said that any increase in the tariff rate for multinational companies would only be made in a gradual and reasonable manner, to ensure that it does not affect their operations and projections.

He said details about the decision will be announced by Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

On flood management preparations, Anwar said Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi would be leaving for Kelantan tomorrow to identify the early measures that could be taken in flood preparations.

"He will identify the problems and make early preparations. Our approach is different. We don’t wait for the floods to happen, we make preparations before it happens," he said.

Yesterday, Zahid said the government would take proactive steps in flood disaster management including activating temporary relief centres earlier.

He said with the cooperation of the Malaysian Meteorological Department, some areas where the amount of rainfall is high and expected to cause flooding will be focused on.

Meanwhile, Anwar said the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) had been instructed to be more proactive in dealing with situations involving farmers due to the problem of irregularities in marketing infrastructure.

"Last year, you heard about the huge problem affecting Cameron Highlands farmers that led to them disposing of their products, having no buyers, difficulties in transportation, etc. So Fama has to undertake that measure," he said.