'Don't even think about hiking power tariff in Sabah'

The women's wing of Sabah Progressive Party (Sapp) today urged the federal government not to raise power tariff in Sabah "until and unless the depressing power supply situation in the state is

addressed".

Its chief, Melanie Chia, said the supply problem had been plaguing the state for the last three decades where blackouts a common occurance.

She lamented that this problem had yet been solved.

"As such, the federal government must not think of raising the power tariff in the state for now," she said in a statement issued today.

Electricity rates to go up

She was responding to remarks by Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Peter Chin Fah Kui in Parliament yesterday that there was no guarantee electricity tariff in Sabah which has remained the lowest in the country and unchanged for 23 years, would remain the same due to rising cost of production.

Nonetheless, the ministry would work with Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd to ensure adequate supply for users, he had said, promising to overcome the problem within one year.

“This is precisely what the ministry concerned should be doing before even thinking of raising the power tariff of Sabah,” said Chia who is also Luyang state representative.

She urged the federal government to tackle the perennial power supply in Sabah as soon as possible.

- Bernama