Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has suggested that Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) reduce power tariff in view of lower fuel costs.

"(Recently) they asked cabinet to increase the tariff due to the increase in fuel caused a higher input cost.

"But now it costs less," said Khairy in a post on his Facebook page last night.

Khairy said this in passing, while commenting on Ismail Sabri Yaakob's recent call for Malays to boycott Chinese businesses to compel the latter to lower prices.

Ismail Sabri ( left ) had argued that Chinese businesses have yet to lower prices despite falling fuel prices and thus the Malays, who make up the majority of consumers, should boycott them.

His tirade also included a religious angle, claiming that many Chinese-owned eateries had suspect halal certification.

"As long as Malays don't change, then the Chinese will continue to take advantage by oppressing the Malays," said Ismail Sabri.

Khairy however chose not to wade into the racial and religious arguments and instead called on the public to focus on exercising their rights as consumers.

"In a situation where fuel costs are going down, consumers must play a role and pressure business owners to reduce their prices," he said.

Among others, Khairy suggested that the public shun profiteers, report them to the authorities and name them on the social media.

He said that Umno Youth's Quality of Life Bureau had already been instructed to work with consumer groups to create public awareness on the issue and work with the authorities to identify and promote "fair price shops".