Pengguna perihatin

PETALING JAYA: Consumers, already grappling with the impact of the fuel price increase, are unhappy that they now have to bear with higher energy rates.

“Although the rise also affects business circles in all sectors, I can see that some of the burden would be passed on to consumers,” Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (Fomca) secretary-general Muhammad Shaani Abdullah said in commenting on the 12% increase in electricity tariff.

“This is because some consumer products are not under the essential items list.”

However, he commended the Government for having the people in mind before allowing the increase by Tenaga Nasional Bhd.

“Domestic users using less than 200kWh will not be affected by the increase. At least, the Government has the lower income group in mind.

“It is already bad with the increase in petrol prices. This latest increase will certainly add to the woes of consumers.

“The Government and TNB should have waited and reviewed the situation, not make a hasty move by putting more pressure on consumers,” said Muhammad Shaani.

Cuepacs president Datuk Nordin Abdul Hamid said the increase was reasonable.

“The Government has the lower income group in mind and this helps to soften the people’s financial burden.

“Industries must play their role by not extending the increase to consumers. If they still want to offset their losses they should do it at the mininum,” he said.

Nordin called on the people to be prudent with their spending.

Malaysian Trades Union Congress deputy president Mohd Shafie BP Mammal said the Government should explain the rationale behind the 12% increase.

“I think it is a little bit too high, especially when the people are still reeling from the last petrol price rise,” he said.