Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is pondering whether the recent slash in electricity tariff has anything to do with the impending Permatang Pauh by-election.

 

"Why is it only for four months? It should be for one year at least.

 

"Was the slash in electricity tariff announced because of the Permatang Pauh by-election?

 

"If this is true, then (opposition leader) Anwar (Ibrahim) has given Malaysians a very nice gift by going to prison," he told reporters today.

 

Anwar, who is in the Sungai Buloh prison since Tuesday to serve a five-year sentence for sodomy, has 14 days to seek a royal pardon.

 

Lim points out that according to the law, the by-election must be held within 60 days if the Permatang Pauh MP refuses to apply for a pardon from the Agong, or if he fails in his application.

 

‘Why four months?’

 

On the new electricity tariff rates, the DAP secretary-general urged for it be reduced by 35 percent, based on profits the national electricity supplier TNB had made last year.

 

"We are not asking for a 50 percent slash according to the reduction in oil prices, which went down from USD105 to USD50 per barrel," Lim said.

 

"We are questioning why four months only for the reduction in tariff rates when oil prices are expected to remain at USD50 per barrel – a 50 percent reduction," he added.

 

Lim was referring to Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Maximus Ongkili's announcement that the new rates will apply from March 1 to June 30.

 

Users can save between RM13 and RM45 per month depending on usage with the new tariff rates, Maximus had said.

 

For users in the peninsular, the new tariff will see a reduction of 2.25 sen per kWh, he added. However, he said the new rate should only affect those using more than 300 kWh a month.

 

Malaysians have welcomed the reduction as the last tariff review was conducted in January last year.

Penang Pakatan to discuss by-election

 

Lim was also asked if he expects a drop in investment in Penang due to global perception that Anwar was unfairly incarcerated for sodomy.

 

"Anwar will not do anything to affect the investment or economy of the state or country.

 

"The perception is built by the actions of the federal government.

 

"We will not call for a racist boycott (of their products) as Agriculture Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakub had done when he called for Malays to boycott Chinese traders who refused to lower prices of their goods," he quipped.

 

Ismail Sabri had issued the remark in his Facebook but it has since been deleted.

 

Prime Minister Najib Razak has denied allegations of racism and defended his minister, saying that Ismail Sabri was referring to all traders in his remark.

 

Meanwhile, Lim said Penang Pakatan Rakyat will hold its meeting in Penang on Saturday, after the coalition's leadership council meeting in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow.

 

Although Lim called for all to be patient until the Election Commission officially declares the Permatang Pauh seat vacant, he said preparations for the by-election will be one of the topics of discussion at the meeting.

 

"However, it will be a closed-door meeting as we do not want you (reporters) to wait so long for us.

 

"Any decision taken by Pakatan Penang will be announced to the press later," he added.