Latest Developments with Malaysia’s Power Giant TNB

Perak residents are miffed that they may be shortchanged by Malaysian energy giant, Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB). The power company is said to be billing residents on alternate months, which allows for the imposition of a higher tariff, according to state assemblyperson, Chang Lih Kang.

The matter was raised by Chang to the state’s Energy Commission recently, according to a report by Malaysiakini. According to the report, Chang said:

It appears as if they are manipulating users, because the tariff for usage under 400 kilowatt-hours is lower than if the usage is greater than 400 kilowatt-hours.

Chang was reported to have said the complaints come from across the northern state. The complaints were compiled by him, Pasir Panji assemblyperson, Thomas Su, and Batu Gajah MP, Fong Po Kuan. According to Chang, the Perak Energy Commission chief, Nur Ali Za Omar, said TNB has claimed that it is doing so because it is short-staffed.

Apparently, electricity users have seen an increase in their bill. Those who habitually pay between RM100 and RM200 a month received bills of more than RM400 in April.

Chang also claims that TNB has  broken the law because the Electricity Supply Act 1990 states that energy suppliers must issue bills on a monthly basis.

Meanwhile, it has also been reported that TNB has forced its forced way into the Rawang New Village, Selangor, to begin survey work, notwithstanding its promise to residents that a joint committee would first be formed to discuss the building of high-tension cable towers in the area.

Malaysiakini reports that some 50 villagers, comprising mostly of women and the elderly, “tried to form a human chain to stop the 200 TNB employees”, who had police support. Unfortunately, the villagers failed in their bid to halt the work.

Village head, Goh Ah Kow, was reported to have said that TNB originally planned a high tension cable route through the nearby Rawang Perdana industrial park. However, TNB purportedly sold the land to a private company, making it necessary for the cable route to be put through the village. Ten buildings are expected to be demolished but a Chinese vernacular primary school and a temple in the New Village will remain.

In April, the CSR Digest had a news bite on how the power giant hopes to get recognised for their CSR by 2015.