By Melanie ChiaElectricity supplies is a utility, which in most countries, is the responsibility of the government. It is a necessity in this modern day society. The government of the day therefore cannot devolve itself of this responsibility, be it to ensure adequate and consistent supply or to ensure the affordability of this utility.
The just revised electrify tariff by Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) starting on 1 June is only the beginning to further burden of rising costs to the people in the country. This would be so despite warning by the government authorities to the business communities that prices cannot be increased indiscriminately.
It is understood that where electricity is a component to the production costs, the rising of the electricity tariff inevitably increased the cost of production and therefore the costs of goods. It has also been reported that even hawkers in West Malaysia may consider price increase because of the increased burden of the utility to their income!
It is reported that the Managing Director of Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB), Datuk Ir. Baharin Bin Din, had said that SESB is waiting for the government announcement on any increase in electricity tariff in Sabah.
Melanie Chia, SAPP Wanita Chief, also Luyang State Assemblywoman, said that there is no reason to revise electricity tariff in Sabah, more so when Sabah is a major producer of gas in the country.
The government had announced that the need to increase the electricity tariff is in line with the government's effort to rationalize energy prices in accordance with global market mechanisms and as part of the ongoing subsidy rationalization exercise.
It was reported that up to end of 2010, PETRONAS had extended about RM131.3 billion in gas subsidy to both the Power and Non-Power Sectors. It was also reported that shouldering the gas subsidy would limit PETONAS's ability to contribute in terms of dividends and corporate taxes.
"The government has repeatedly said that they need to review the subsidies because of the increase in the prices of oil and gas. But it has been reported that every time the price of oil and gas increased by US$1, there is an additional income of RM500million. Although the US$1 increase will increase the subsidy by RM350million, there is still a net excess of RM150million. So, where has this excess gone to?".
"By this calculation, the recent increases in the prices of oil and gas should have brought about a win-win situation to the government and the people of Malaysia. If the government has to cry foul each time the price increases, we need to ask the government where has the excess due to the higher prices of our natural resources gone to? Instead of a win-win accruing from our natural endowment, we are burdened with the eventuality of higher cost of living. Where is the logic?"
There is definitely a need to have greater accountability and transparency by PETRONAS. This is especially urgent for Sabah now that we have become the major producer of oil and gas in the country and we are not even represented in the Advisory Board of PETRONAS. Before our natural endowment in oil and gas is depleted, the Malaysian living in Sabah need to be assure that Sabah will benefit from the exploitation of the oil and gas here. Sabah and companies in Sabah should be direct beneficiaries from the Oil and Gas Industry development. On the same count, Melanie queried the siting of the proposed Refinery and Petrochemicals Integrated Development (RAPID) Complex in Johore when Johore has no gas or oil fields. The RAPID Complex is earmarked to produce chemicals and refine crude oil in the capacity of 300,000 barrels per day.
Apa seterusnya...YB?
ReplyDeleteKita meyeru semua padamkan api untuk seminggu dan turus panggil suasana 'boycot' pemuda-pemudi di jalan Gaya hari Ahad!
Rakyat Sabah tidak mempunyai masalah utk kenaikan tarif elektrik sekiranya skurang2nya 20 ke 25 peratus dari hasil minyak dan gas yg diperolehi di sini dikembalikan utk pembangunan negeri kita. rakyat tulin sabah seharusnya mendapat manfaat langsung dari hasil minyak. Paling menyedihkan adalah mengakui hakikat bahawa negeri kita adalah keterbelakang dari semua negeri2 di malaysia dan malah lebih miskin dari kelantan yg ditadbir kerajaan pas.
ReplyDeletejalanraya2 di seluruh negeri berada dlm keadaan yg teruk, masalah gangguan elektik yg tidak berkesudahan, tiada akses bekalan air bersih, perkhidmatan pengangkutan awam yg menyedihkan, kesesakan jalan, masalah kebanjiran pendatang tanpa izin, kurang peluang pekerjaan, diskriminasi politik, diskriminasi agama, standard rendah sistem pendidikan, harga rumah yg melampau, kenaikan harga barang yg tidak terkawal, sistem percukaian yg melampau, masalah rasuah yg meruncing, pasukan keselamatan yg tidak cekap/profisional dan senarainya berpanjangan.
Jalan penyelasaian kepada semua isu ini hanya satu, didik masyarakat/rakyat berhenti bersikap tidak ambil peduli dan mudah berpuas hati. sementara saya menolak kata2 'jangan tanya apa yg negara boleh bagi kepada kamu, tanya apa yg kamu boleh beri kepada negara', saya akan kata begini 'beritahu apa yg kamu boleh beri kepada negara dan pada masa yg sama tanya apa yg negara boleh berikan kepada kamu'. baru adil. sikap patriotik tidak seharusnya membuta,
Unlikely to burden the hardcore poor, most of them in the rural areas does not have electricity supply, therefore no need to pay tariff.
ReplyDeleteSaya sukung ko My name is Tingangga... dimana gia kau tinggal... Memang banyak yang boleh kita fikirkan untuk menylesaikan masalah yang menghantui kita sekian lama. Namun suara kita saja tidak mungkin didengar atau dilayan oleh orang2 atasan. Ya, saya juga setuju bahawa Sabahan perlu mengubah sikap mereka untuk memberi ruang kepada Sabah menikmati lebih pembangunan.
ReplyDeleteApa yang menjadi hak kita, Kita suarakan. Jangan hanya jadi pak turut sampai bila2.
ReplyDeletebeban rakyat kini main bertambah, kerajaan harusnya kurangkan beban rakyat.
ReplyDeleteAgree. Stop being ignorance and face the reality. Let out the voice. Take actions. Stand up for Sabah.
ReplyDeletejika tarif elektrik dinaikkan untuk merasionalisasikan subsidi, kerajaan juga perlu pertimbangkan keadaan rakyat terlebih dahulu.
ReplyDeletejadi pa lagi datang nanti PR13 tukar kerajaan pakai pencil di atas kertas undi dan undi SAPP..tidak payah lagi kita bising bising selama 50 tahun lagi...cukuplah penderitaan org sabah.
ReplyDeleteElectricity Tariff NAIK.
ReplyDeleteGaji Bos TNB pun NAIK.
Inilah parti syaitan umno kamu yang undi.
We need to just changed the presence bn government and vote for SAPP to be the next government.
ReplyDeleteWe had enough empty promises from party malaya.
With the increase of electricity tariff in sabah, there is no doubt it will burden the people. I only hope government had come up with a way to lighten the people burden.
ReplyDeleteFor now, people need to start saving money and also use electricity when only needed.
ReplyDeletetidak payahlah naikkan tarif elektrik di sabah..tidak masuk akal pula kalau dinaikkan sedangkan sabah adalah pengeluar minyak dan gas.
ReplyDeletelagipun selalu black out..bagus dikurangkan daripada dinaikkan kerana perkhidmatan yang buruk..
ReplyDeletesiapa yang mahu mendengar keluhan dan rintihan rakyat tulin sabah, sebab penjajah itu arif sangat bahawa jika binatang sekali pun yang bertanding atas tikit bn, ia pasti menang kerana pengundi fixed deposit sudah sedia memenangkan binatang itu.mereka lebih rela membela dan memberikan susu kepada 'kera di hutan' dan membiarkan kita mati kelaparan di bumi sendiri.... mereka tahu undi fixed deposit itu boleh mengekalkan kuasa penjajahan mereka hingga kiamat.adakah ban kee mung mendengar keluhan kita.......
ReplyDeleteSaya harap kenaikan ini satu pembuka mata rakyat terhadap BN.Pilih lah dengan baik pada GE13 kerana kita rakyat biasa sudah sampai ke alam getir dalam hidup kita dengan kenaikan barang di Sabah.
ReplyDeleteKemampuan kita untuk hidup walau pun sederhana sudah banyak tergugat.Masalah inflasi di Sabah bukan lah satu perkara yang bolih diambil remeh.
Ianya jika berterusan akan membawa kesengsaraan yang serius kepada semua isi rumah.Olih itu hanya tinggal satu cara sahaja untuk membalas tindakan kerajaan BN ini iaitu mereka HARUS DI TUKAR.
kemampuan rakyat perlulah diambilkira.
ReplyDeleteInilah 1 Malaysia, tarif sama-sama dinaikkan.
ReplyDeleteHarap kerajaan merancang sesuatu perkara denga baik dan tidak terlalu membebankan rakyat.
ReplyDeleteso maknanya jika kita tukar kerajaan kita akan dapat subsidi sampai akhir zaman?? harga barang, elektrik dan petrol akan kekal selama2nya?? mana parti yang boleh bagi jaminan seperti ini?
ReplyDelete