KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan questions the Sabah government’s decision to raise electricity tariffs when power supply remains unreliable and living costs are already high.
Its president, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, said the government has described the increase as inevitable and minimal.
“Such assurances, however, cannot replace accountability when basic services have yet to meet acceptable standards.
“The government says the increase is inevitable and minimal. However, when basic services fail, people should not be asked to pay more,” he said in a statement here today.
Mohd Shafie asserted that the increase is not just about higher electricity bills for households and industries.
“It will raise operating costs for businesses, push up prices of goods and services, weaken small businesses and reduce household spending power across Sabah,” he added.
He said the real issue is whether the government has fixed the root problems in Sabah’s power system before passing the cost to consumers.
Mohd Shafie said Sabah depends heavily on Independent Power Producers (IPPs), and many power supply contracts were signed years ago and should be reviewed to ensure Sabah is not paying more than it should.
As such, he said Warisan urged the state government to explain clearly how the new tariff was calculated, review IPP agreements and improve efficiency and management within Sabah Electricity.
“Electricity is a basic necessity. Sabahans should not be asked to pay more while supply problems persist,” he said.
