KUALA LUMPUR: Enterprises and business operators have no reason to raise prices of goods and services following the reduction in electricity surcharge for commercial and industrial users.
Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) chief executive officer T. Saravanan said that while the reduction was small, one sen per kWh, it is aimed at alleviating some financial pressure.
The announcement was also welcomed by consumers who had been affected by rising costs of goods.
"We hope the reduction will not have implications on any quarters; we know that businesses would cite rising costs as an excuse to raise their prices.
"We hope the small reduction will not be used as an excuse for businesses to raise prices of goods," he told Berita Harian.
Meanwhile, Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) secretary-general Datuk Tan Tian Meng said the reduction in electricity tariffs would help ease operational costs for businesses and manufacturers, especially industries with large energy consumption.
"We hope that the government will ensure a conducive and competitive investment climate, including business costs, to spur growth in the economy and business.
"This includes reducing bureaucracy and additional costs related to (business) compliance," he said.
Yesterday, the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry announced that the rates for industrial and commercial users would see a reduction of one sen from 3.70 sen per kWh to 2.70 sen/kWh from July 1 to Dec 31, while the rates for domestic users remained until the end of the year.