IPPs: 'Pakatan will do what BN dare not'

The government must have the courage to take on big tycoons in re-negotiating lopsided contracts with the independent power producers.

This, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim told an audience of more than 100 young professionals, he will do if he becomes prime minister.

"The current government lacks the courage to do this, I will do it," he said in a dialogue in Subang Jaya this evening.

Anwar, who is also Selangor economic advisor, said current high electricity tariffs are being driven by the monopoly of giant companies such as Genting and YTL and tycoon Syed Mokthar Al-Bukhary’s Tanjung Bin Power.

"They buy gas from Petronas at subsidised prices but sell to Tenaga Nasional Berhad at high prices. In the end, it is the consumers who must bear the cost," he lamented.

If Pakatan comes into power, Anwar said, these companies will be summoned and asked to come up with proposals to reduce the price of electricity.

"I will tell them I want you to continue making money, but not so high that the rakyat is burdened," the PKR supremo told the largely middle-class crowd which listened intently.

Or else it will be 'difficult'

Anwar added he would expect these giants to respond fairly despite having signed power purchase agreements with the government.

Or else, he said, it would be "difficult for both sides".

In contrast to Anwar's typical ceramah-style campaigning in the countryside, the dialogue today appeared to target urbanites with opportunities aplenty for the audience to engage him.

"When you are on Facebook or Twitter, just spend 10 minutes of your time each day to spread our message," he urged the young professionals.