The DAP said that the cabinet committee on electricity supply was unlikely to agree with public demand for contracts with independent power producers (IPP) to be renegotiated fairly.

NONE In a statement today, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng ( right ) said that instead, only a royal commission of inquiry or bipartisan committee could ensure full disclosure on the IPP's contracts with Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB).

"Only a royal commission of inquiry or a bi-partisan committee comprising of both BN and Pakatan Rakyat elected representatives can instill public confidence that Malaysians will not lose out on renegotiating (with) the IPPs.

"They have lost out when (former Prime Minister) Dr Mahathir Mohamad imposed these lopsided gas subsidies and unfair contracts in favour of IPPs," said Lim.

Yesterday, Second Finance Minister Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah announced the formation of the committee that would study all aspects of power supply.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nor Mohamed Yakcop and Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Peter Chin will be in it.

Ku Li the only BN MP with conscience?

Ahmad Husni said that committee will study all aspects of power supply and not just IPPs, including production cost and future electricity needs.

Lim said that DAP was unconvinced that the federal government was committed to correct the wrongs in IPP contracts, likening the situation to how those behind in the RM52 billion bumiputera share scandal went unpunished.

tengku razaleigh hamzah 270908 Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak told the Invest Malaysia 2009 forum that out of RM54 billion shares handed to bumiputeras since 1974, only RM2 billion remains.

Lim said that DAP fully endorse the suggestion by Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah ( left ) who called for a royal commission on inquiry to review the IPP contracts and gas subsidies.

"Why is it that Tengku Razaleigh is the only BN MP who can see the adverse impact of subsidy cuts and rising power prices on the cost of living of ordinary Malaysians?

"Are the other BN MPs so beholden to IPPs that they are willing to cut subsidies for the poor but not even touch the tens of billions of ringgit of gas subsidies enjoyed the IPPs, thus allowing billions of ringgit in annual profits?" he asked.