Several MPs have taken aim at the independent power producers (IPPs) for the subsidised fuel they received for power generation following an increase on electricity tariff.

The government yesterday announced that Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) will increase electricity tariff in peninsula Malaysia by 15 percent while the hike for Sabah and Labuan will be 16.9 percent.

Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Maximus Ongkili said the hike will not affect 70.67 percent of households as it only applies to consumers using more than 300 kiloWatts of electricity.

However, the MPs argued that several industries will be impacted by the hike which will then pass on the cost to consumers.

Seputeh MP Teresa Kok

This is a steep increase directly burden consumers and industries and will create a chain effect resulingt in increased price of many goods, thus hurting even the lower income group.

NONE Why must the government impose such a steep increase when there was already an imposition of 7.12 percent increase in June 2011?

What is most disappointing is the fact that the government does not have the will to do what ought to be done despite past repeated urgings by the opposition - to cut the billion ringgit subsidies to IPPs.

Why should consumers and industries continue to bear the brunt of BN’s policy of subsidy rationalisation when the IPPs which have reaped huge profits continue to enjoy huge subsidies due to lopsided agreements signed by BN?

The prime minister must inform the nation what has happened to the review on the gas subsidies to the independent power producers.

Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin

This latest price hike following the sugar and petrol price revision places additional burden on families. To make matters worse is the impending 6 percent Goods and Services Tax (GST) which will be implemented in April 2015.

How is the minimum wage earner of RM900 per month supposed to keep up with these significant price increases?

Instead of mistreating Malaysians with more financial stress, the government should withdraw the subsidies given to IPPs where all unused and over-generated supply are sold at a high price to TNB and the subsequent costs absorbed by the people.

Bukit Katil MP Shamsul Iskandar

Is the subsidy reduction in several sectors not enough to support the government imprudent spending?

NONE The electricity bill of the prime minister’s residence, Seri Perdana, amounts to RM2.2 million a year or RM8,000 a day, up from RM6,000 a day a year before.

The rakyat are asked to change their lifestyle (to deal with increasing prices) but the prime minister and BN leaders get an exception.

The time has come for the government to stop using ‘subsidy rationalisation’ as its propaganda to justify the increase of prices and instead learn to be rational themselves by not burdening the rakyat.