MCA welcomes move to review energy tariffs

MCA welcomes the Cabinet’s move for a speedy review of gas prices of the power sector. Energy, Water and Communications Minister YB Dato’ Shaziman Abu Mansor said that the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) would conduct a review before proposing the new gas price to his ministry, upon which his ministry would prepare an electricity tariff structure that would be streamlined with the new gas rate.

MCA Spokesperson Sdr Lee Wei Kiat welcomes the move by the government to reduce the power rates of the energy industry. “It shows the government is sensitive to the needs of the rakyat whereby with lower electricity tariffs, the costs of production are automatically reduced, thus resulting in prices of consumer goods and services dropping. The Barisan Nasional government is a caring government which always aims to alleviate the burden of the rakyat.”

“Such a reduction in energy prices is particularly warranted now when global demand has decreased significantly in view of the global economic crisis effected by the mellowing of the American economy. The higher electricity rates direly affect profit margins which could cause losses resulting with companies downsizing.”

Wei Kiat also advised the various retailers and service providers to cut the prices of their goods and services and to refrain from being focused with making excess profit since production and operations costs would be lower when electricity prices decline.

The head of the MCA Information and Communication Bureau also suggested that the government sets an auto floating mechanism to be implemented on power producers whereby the energy prices should follow according to global market demands. “MCA takes cognizance that public interest comes first. Our party’s stand is that there should be liberalizing of the economic sectors and an energy prices should be adjustable according to the global circumstance.”

“An auto floating mechanism in power rates will optimise prices for manufacturers, retailers, goods and service providers. Households will definitely benefit with lower electricity bills as it means lower expenses and a better purchasing capacity. It has always been MCA’s stand that medium and lower income groups must be prioritized. Meanwhile, the government may monitor the mechanism in an open and transparent manner.”

马华欢迎政府降电费，与民共赴时艰

马华党部发言人李伟杰表示，马华欢迎内阁同意调整天然气价格，在经济不景的时期，减轻人民的负担，与民共赴时艰。

能源、水务及通讯部长拿督沙兹曼日前说，首相署经济策划局将会把最新天然气价格建议提呈给该部门，届时能讯部也将一并调整国内的电费收费架构。

也是马华新闻局主任的李伟杰表示，内阁同意调低电费证明政府体恤人民，尤其降电费将减轻厂商的营运成本，届时物价也将随之降低。

“正当金融海啸席卷全球，而且国际原油价格有显著的回落，政府现阶段调降电费是适时的举措，毕竟高昂电费足以严重影响企业的收益，迫使陷困的公司为削减开销进行裁员或重组。”

李伟杰也促请零售商家与服务业者在电费价格调低以后，应该自动降低产品以及服务价格，因为它们的生产及运作成本已经下降。

李伟杰同时建议政府制定一套能源自动浮动系统，即能源价格以全球市场的供需格局变化而定。
“马华公会的立场是以公众利益作为优先，即经济市场应有其自由度，当然能源价格更应该以全球大环境因素来做出调整。”

“能源自动浮动系统确实会让制造业者、零售业者、产品服务供应商等获利不少；当然，人民也能从中受惠，即以更低的电费开销享有更好电源生产量。这符合马华公会一直坚持的立场，关注中下阶层的福利和权益。”

李伟杰强调，政府须以开明、透明的方式来操作该项浮动系统，避免出现滥权问题。