A new electricity tariff scheme to be introduced soon will see consumers who do not conserve electricity paying more.

"The more you use, the more you have to pay. If there is an increase in tariff, we will look into a gradual increase...this is to look after the poor," said Energy, Water and Communications Minister Dr Lim Keng Yaik today.

However, he declined to reveal the possible increase which will be announced in 'a month or two'.

Last month, Lim said that the government is assessing Tenaga Nasional Berhad's (TNB) request for a tariff increase due to higher operating costs.

In a related development, he said the government may amend the law to include imprisonment for those found guilty of stealing electricity and water.

"This is serious as it is affecting innocent consumers who are paying for it," he said.

Business entity

The minister also disclosed that a water asset holding company, government-owned through the Finance Ministry, will be set up soon to raise funds for building water and sewerage facilities.

He said the company will operate a business entity with full cost recovery without profit over a longer period and tapping funds from the capital market.

"You spend on infrastructure without using the provision under the 9th Malaysia Plan ... this will not affect the plan yet we have to spend on infrastructure to keep the economy going," he said.

He said this is to encounter the constraint of getting sufficient fund under the 9th Malaysian Plan.

"We have constraints in getting funds under the 9th Plan. We don't know the ceiling yet. But it could be from RM150 - RM190 billion," he said, adding that the government has to spend about RM30 billion over the next ten years on water and sewerage facilities.