Slash Top Tnb Staff S Benefits Instead Of Raising Tariffs Govt Urged

---

 
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had said that any increase in electricity tariffs in the second half of 2025 would be done carefully to ensure that businesses are not burdened. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: Civil society group Aliran has urged the government to slash Tenaga Nasional Bhd’s (TNB) expenditure, particularly the benefits enjoyed by its top officials, instead of raising electricity tariffs for industries.
Expressing concern that the costs of industry players would be passed on to consumers and worsen inflation, the group also questioned the need to hike the tariffs when TNB’s profits had soared in recent years.
It said that TNB recorded a net profit of RM3.74 billion from January to September 2024, a 71.2% year-on-year increase compared with the same period the previous year.
Meanwhile, referring to TNB’s annual report for 2023, it said the utility firm’s directors received around RM7 million that year with non-executive directors earning up to RM20,000 a month in various fees.
“The government should order TNB to do ‘national service’ by getting it to slash the pay, allowances, and benefits of its top echelon before raising tariffs,” it said in a statement.
Aliran also urged TNB to review its agreements with independent power producers to optimise costs.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had said that any increase in electricity tariffs in the second half of 2025 would be done carefully to ensure that businesses are not burdened, while 85% of households would continue receiving subsidies.
He said the tariffs would not be increased up to 14% and would be based on the imbalance cost pass-through mechanism. This mechanism adjusts electricity rates based on actual fuel cost fluctuations, reviewed every six months.
Electricity tariffs are set under the Energy Commission’s Incentive-Based Regulation framework, reviewed every three years.
It was previously reported that the government was finalising new tariffs for Peninsular Malaysia, set for review in July. - FMT

---