DAP: Putrajaya must resolve prolonged power outage in southern Johor

Kluang MP Liew Chin Tong says the power failure will erode investor confidence.

PETALING JAYA: Putrajaya has been urged to look into the prolonged power outage in Southern Johor, especially in the Bukit Indah and Sutera areas.

Kluang MP Liew Chin Tong said the power outage occurred on Dec 14 and was still unresolved more than 72 hours later.

“This is probably the worst and longest power outage in Peninsular Malaysia since 1996,” he said in a statement.
The DAP Johor chairman said Energy, Green Technology and Water (KeTTHA) minister Maximus Ongkili and Energy Commission chairman Abdul Razak Abdul Majid should provide an explanation to the public.

“Both have so far remained silent on the subject. I tried to reach the minister via SMS but failed as his phone is switched off,” Liew said.

He said the Energy Commission, the regulatory body governing Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), should investigate the cause of the power failure, adding that the commission should direct TNB to assess the losses of the users and compensate accordingly.

“While southern Johor is undergoing rapid development, especially with a large number of residential, commercial and industrial projects in Iskandar Malaysia, the issues of energy and water security must be given top priority in development planning and execution.

“Ordinary families and small and large businesses alike suffer and incur losses when hit by water cuts and power outages. Needless to say, the confidence of local and international investors will take a hit following the mishaps.

“It is, therefore, crucial for the government to be upfront about the causes of the breakdown and explain the subsequent remedial steps to the public to stop further erosion of public confidence,” Liew said, adding that the investigation report should be made public. - FMT