In light of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng speculating that lower electricity tariffs as a bribe leading up to the Permatang Pauh by-election, perhaps Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) would reconsider their decision lower their tariffs in Penang. After all, we should not burden other people with matters involving other states.

On Feb 11, the federal government decided to reduce the electricity tariff by 2.25 sen/kWh due to the lower fuel prices, a move urged by MPs such as PKR’s Nurul Izzah Anwar, Umno’s Khairy Jamaluddin and even DAP’s Charles Santiago - a representative from his own party based in Klang.

According to Penang Monthly statistics published in October 2012, 2011 saw the state consume 1,601 MW of energy at most. As such, if we take this figure and calculate it with the reduced tariff, Penangites would have saved RM36,022.50 an hour. Over the period until June 2104, the entire population would have saved some RM77.8 million.

As such, perhaps the government should consider itself to avoid money politics and accede to the chief minister’s request by allowing Penangites to save millions by reducing the tariff.

After all, we do want a level playing field for the Permatang Pauh by-election, regardless if it contributes to the coffers of Tenaga Nasional Bhd which in 2014 made a cool RM6.4 billion in profits.

I am sure the chief minister speaks for all of Penang when he says such things, and I am sure the island state is willing to back its elected representative in sacrificing such a huge amount simply to avoid the suspicion of it becoming a bribe, similar to how they do not accept Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) or ask for federal welfare.

Sarcasm aside, chief minister, the people are suffering from increasing costs of living, and for any elected representative to insist on it being a bribe shows that you do not even consider the sufferings of your people.

Not only would the people of Penang be eligible to save some RM77 million in electricity, but it would also mean cheaper production of goods and food, thus increasing profit margins for businesses and allowing for everyone to demand lower prices as consumers.

No need to politicise everything

Not everything is about politics. There is a need to not politicise everything. One would think that while people suspect the decisions of the government due to the timing of the announcement, they are still grateful for the savings they will get regardless of who does it.

The Pakatan Rakyat policies have always been to reduce the cost of living through campaigns of lowering petrol prices, water tariffs and similarly if we were to look at Charles Santiago’s Facebook page, the lowering of the electricity tariff by 10 percent as proposed by the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca).

Yet, the chief minister of Penang himself inadvertently states that this should not be done because of the timing. Perhaps we should reconsider this nationwide tariff lowering (except for Sarawak) simply due to the chief minister’s suspicions that this is a bribe to win Permatang Pauh.

Or maybe, we can offer him the choice of his government paying full price for electricity at its current tariff while the people of Penang can enjoy saving their cash for more important things.

Either way, politicians truly should consider what they say instead of toying with the cost of living for Malaysians.