Umno members feel the pinch of power tariff hike

Umno members from all over the country today echoed dissatisfaction over the announced electricity tariff hike.

Those met at the Umno general assembly in Kuala Lumpur today all agreed with Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin that the hike is unnecessary as power provider Tenaga Nasional Bhd is already making enough profits. 

“Based on Khairy’s statement yesterday, I would just like to say that the ministry should not have increased the hike without considering how it is going to burden the people,” said Sharulzaman Yakub of Kuala Nerus Umno.

“I hope the government listens to the voice and the views of the (Umno) youth”, he added.

A Kuala Langat member, who only wanted to be known as Rosaminah, also questioned the timing of the tariff hike. 

As it is, she said, prices of goods and services are already on the rise. 

Lumut Puteri Umno member Zakina Ismail, who owns a bakery, agrees. 

“My business requires the use of a lot of electricity to store ingredients and cakes and my current utilities bill for electricity alone amounts to RM2,000,” she said. 

“As a small scale entrepreneur, the hike is going to be cumbersome, and we cannot also raise the price of our products, especially food, and thus the government should think about the burden that may be inflicted on small businesses.”

Husin Sukan from Sandakan Umno said that it is the lower and middle income groups who would be most hit, and the wealthy will remain unscathed.

He said that price of goods will increase due to the tariff hike and these middle and lower income families could have used this difference in prices for other needs. 

One member from Perak Umno, who declined to be named, said that she already feels the pinch even though she is a middle income civil servant.

“Our bills are already high today. Civil servants like us are already having it tough, so how could those without a fixed income like fishermen and farmers cope,” she said.