Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has confirmed that the planned electricity tariff hike by Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) will not impact 85% of Malaysians.
Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat today, Anwar, who is also the finance minister, stated that the increase would only apply to businesses and high-income individuals.
If we don’t tax the rich, where will the money come from to improve schools and hospitals?” he said during the Prime Minister’s Question Time.
85% of M’sians will not be affected
He emphasized that industries and the wealthy must accept a reasonable tariff increase, reiterating that the adjustment would not affect the majority of the population.
Anwar’s statement came in response to Bersatu MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal, who questioned the government’s stance on the tariff hike.
In December last year, Anwar assured the public that there would be no electricity tariff increase affecting ordinary Malaysians and instructed TNB to clarify the matter.
He also dismissed rumors of a 14% hike, explaining that adjustments would follow the Imbalance Cost Pass-Through (ICPT) mechanism without burdening the public.
TNB previously announced that a new base tariff of 45.62 sen per kilowatt-hour (kWh) is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, under Regulatory Period 4 (RP4).
This is an increase from the current 39.95 sen/kWh under Regulatory Period 3 (RP3) from 2022 to 2024.
Anwar has remained firm in his policy of taxing the wealthy and ensuring subsidies benefit those who truly need them, rather than those who can afford essentials like RON95 petrol and diesel.
