Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim recently stated that electricity bills will increase in the second half of this year, but the increase is not the previously rumored 14%. This statement aims to clarify the controversy caused by the previous statement by the Malaysian National Energy Corporation (JNEC) regarding the increase in electricity tariffs.

On February 3rd, Anwar stated in his speech at the Chinese Chamber of Commerce Malaysia (ACCIM) Chinese New Year's Gala Lunch that Guoneng's previous statement about the increase in electricity bills had caused some confusion, but this issue has been corrected. He emphasized that the adjustment of electricity bills is based on the results of a 6-month review of the current price level, and the increase will not be significant enough to burden or inconvenience the people.

The increase in electricity prices is not 14%, "Anwar said." We are willing to listen to the opinions of all parties. This decision is necessary because electricity prices must be adjusted based on the price level of a specific period

Anhua further explained that the purpose of the electricity bill increase is to ensure the sustainability of the country's energy supply, and the government will also ensure that this adjustment does not cause excessive economic pressure on ordinary people. He stated that the government will take measures to ensure that the burden of electricity price increases is mainly borne by the "wealthy class" or enterprises with huge profits, rather than ordinary people.

Anhua also mentioned that the additional income brought by the increase in electricity bills will be used to improve the country's education, healthcare, and infrastructure. He stated that the government will strengthen education and improve healthcare services by imposing moderate taxes on businesses, which will help improve the quality of life for the citizens.

On December 26 last year, Guoneng reported to the Malaysian Stock Exchange, proposing to implement a new electricity tariff of 45.62 cents per kilowatt hour for the fourth regulatory period (RP4) starting from July 1, 2025. In contrast, the basic electricity fee for the third regulatory period from 2022 to 2024 is 39.95 cents per kilowatt hour. However, Guoneng later clarified that the government has not yet decided whether to approve the proposal to increase the basic electricity price by 14.2%.

Anwar reiterated in response to this proposal that the government will not allow any increase in electricity bills that would burden the people. He emphasized that the burden of electricity price increases should not be borne by ordinary people, but by those enterprises or the "wealthy class" that make huge profits.

The proposal to increase electricity bills has sparked widespread discussion in Malaysian society. Many people are concerned that rising electricity bills will increase the economic burden on households and businesses, especially in the current context of global economic instability. However, the government stated that an increase in electricity bills is necessary to ensure the sustainability of the country's energy supply and provide financial support for the country's future development.

Anhua's statement aims to alleviate public concerns and emphasize that the government will take measures to ensure the fairness of electricity price increases. He stated that the government will continue to listen to the opinions of all parties and fully consider the interests of the people when making final decisions.