Power tariff announcement to fish for votes, Warisan claims
KOTA KINABALU: Warisan Sabah vice president Junz Wong has urged Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Maximus Ongkili to stop making what he described as meaningless announcements and address the real electricity issues in Sabah.
On Friday, Maximus declared that the electricity tariff and rebate will be maintained in Sabah and Labuan for the remainder of 2017.
He said the electricity rebate will be maintained at 1.20 cent/kWh effective July 1 until December 31 with a special RM468 million subsidy to accommodate rising coal price and electricity generation this year.
“I believe this announcement is aimed at fishing for votes by pretending to care for our rakyat and has conveniently avoided the real issue,” said Junz in a statement yesterday.
“Why only six months and not longer? I believe Maximus is wasting his time if he thinks the rakyat would be delighted with his announcement citing that the rakyat in Sabah are very smart nowadays,” he asserted.
“They don’t care what’s happening in the next six months but they are worried about the long-term future via what’s happening after election,” he said.
Junz, who is Likas assemblyman, said he believed there will be an increase in electricity tariff after the general election if Barisan Nasional (BN) retains power.
He said it is simply because the BN government had continued to sign more Independent Power-Producing Plant (IPP) contracts such as the upcoming Ulu Padas Hydro power plant construction project.
“How could Maxiumus face his people to award contract to private corporation when the Sabah government and SESB (Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd) had openly declared that they wanted majority shareholding?” Junz asked.
He stressed that Sabahans must ask SESB and the state government to demand the position as majority shareholders for the Ulu Padas Hydro Plant and other electricity generating facilities in the state so that Sabah has more control and better management of its electricity supply and tariff.
He noted that Sarawak managed to reduce their tariff by 40% when the petrol prices came down because there are no independent power plants (IPPs) in Sarawak and all power plants are run by the state owned utility company.
“We can compare Sabah with Sarawak because I have found out that Sarawak was offering reasonably cheap tariff even before they had Bakun Dam so Bakun cannot be the reason why Sarawak enjoys cheap tariff. The reason has to be IPP contracts.
“If Maximus really cares about getting cheaper electricity tariff for Sabahans, he should make sure SESB and Sabah government get the majority shares of Ulu Padas power plant in the long quest to reduce electricity tariffs for fellow Sabahans.
“This announcement is yet just another election teaser. This six months followed by the Cabotage (Policy) six months studies period after Najib announced that Cabotage is to be abolished on June 2017. This once again shows that election will be held only after six months period or end of 2017,” Junz said.