Water & electric bills going up, up, up; Rakyat’s quality of life coming down, down, down
In December last year, the government announced that effective 1 January 2024, the RM0.02 per kWh rebate would no longer be applicable for domestic electricity consumption of 601 to 1,500 kWh on the Peninsula. In a double whammy on household utility bills, the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) has announced that water rates will increase by an average of 22sen per cubic metre commencing 1 February 2024.
The utilities flight coupled with a flood of new and heightened taxes enforced by the government from 2024 onwards necessitate the Malaysia Madani government to undertake a comprehensive evaluation of the hardship which the rakyat are being confronted with. The common person on the street are further weighed down by these price hikes in an economic environment that remains sluggish.
As employee wages stagnate and the prices of goods continue to surge, the Malaysia Madani’s decision to raise utilities charges is disappointing as it is devoid of empathy for the difficulties people are enduring due to reduced purchasing power.
Wanita MCA is concerned as to how ordinary households may survive the impacts of rising commodity prices; Electricity bills have almost tripled from RM12 to RM32 (4.2% to 6%) per month; Water tariffs have soared from RM1.60 and RM8 per month whereby 47% of domestic users are affected. The escalation in water and electricity bills will reap a chain reaction – all of which will only exacerbate inflation and inflict more misery unto people’s daily lives.
Water and electricity charges are the most basic expenses for every household and the heavy load people are carrying will only grow more burdensome. Since last year, MCA President Datuk Seri Ir Dr Wee Ka Siong in the Dewan Rakyat has highlighted about the Imbalance Cost Pass-Through (ICPT) which eventually leads to a spike in electricity bills by nearly 40%. Although Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim has repeatedly assured that the adjusted charges will not affect household users and SMEs, the reality on the ground speaks otherwise. The higher operation costs from an ascent in electric bills are eventually passed down to people.
Beginning this year, a 10% sales tax is slapped on imported low value goods (LVG) purchased on e-commerce platforms. The tax on sugar-sweetened beverages climbed from 40sen to 50sen per litre. The sales and service tax (SST) jumped from 6% to 8% while 8% SST will be imposed on traditional and complementary medicine (TC&M) services. The price of sugar is also expected to leap. The additional expenses individuals and families have to fork out are certainly forcing many families into unbearable difficulties.
Moreover, the government intends to implement targeted subsidies, thereby indirectly coercing citizens to register their personal data into the Central Database Hub (PADU) system. However, PADU has been found to contain loopholes and errors. Will such technical faults render many eligible groups to be unable to receive subsidies due to various reasons?
Given the rainfall of challenges mentioned above which has wrecked undue adversities unto people’s lives, upping the water and electricity tariffs is not a wise move for the present. Wanita MCA urges the government to suspend the relevant decisions and allow people some breathing space. Refrain from executing various measures that only pounds more pressure unto people’s lives.
Written by Wong You Fong, Wanita MCA National Chairperson
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