2011/05/30 By Dharshini Balan andIli Liyana Mokhtar news@nst.com.my
Fomca wants money from the increase in the revenue channelled towards research on renewable energy and green technology.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians should make a concerted effort to minimise energy consumption in their homes, Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) chief executive officer Datuk Paul Selvaraj said."Eventually electricity tariff will reflect market prices, there is no escaping this. As such, consumers should start with low-energy home appliances, switching off electrical items when not in use; small steps that will make a difference," he said yesterday.
Emphasising the importance of consumer education on electricity tariff, he said money from the increase in revenue should be channelled towards research on renewable energy and green technology.
"We should work towards reducing the demand for petroleum-based energy and start relying on renewable sources," he added.
Malaysian Association of Hotels vice-president Ivo R. Nekvapil said hotels would appeal to the government to get an industrial rate.
"The seven per cent tariff is a bit steep. It will be a burden to our operational costs, as hotels run 24 hours a day," he said.
On whether hotels would increase their rates, Ivo said it all depended on individual hotels because operational costs varied.
"Basically, contractual stay and published rates will not change but it might affect packages on hotel stays," he added.
Malaysian Indian Restaurant Owners Association president Datuk R. Ramalingam Pillai said there would be no increase in food prices following the increase in electricity tariff.
"Restaurants will absorb the cost even though it will affect our profit," he said, adding that they had appealed to the government to subsidise certain food items such as oil, flour and sugar.
"We would also like to appeal to the government that foreign workers' levy be absorbed by the workers instead of the operators so that it will reduce our burden."
Currently, restaurant owners have to pay the levy for foreign workers.
On the possibility that some restaurants might increase their prices, Ramalingam said consumers could boycott them.
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Emphasising the importance of consumer education on electricity tariff, he said money from the increase in revenue should be channelled towards research on renewable energy and green technology.
"We should work towards reducing the demand for petroleum-based energy and start relying on renewable sources," he added.
Malaysian Association of Hotels vice-president Ivo R. Nekvapil said hotels would appeal to the government to get an industrial rate.
"The seven per cent tariff is a bit steep. It will be a burden to our operational costs, as hotels run 24 hours a day," he said.
On whether hotels would increase their rates, Ivo said it all depended on individual hotels because operational costs varied.
"Basically, contractual stay and published rates will not change but it might affect packages on hotel stays," he added.
Malaysian Indian Restaurant Owners Association president Datuk R. Ramalingam Pillai said there would be no increase in food prices following the increase in electricity tariff.
"Restaurants will absorb the cost even though it will affect our profit," he said, adding that they had appealed to the government to subsidise certain food items such as oil, flour and sugar.
"We would also like to appeal to the government that foreign workers' levy be absorbed by the workers instead of the operators so that it will reduce our burden."
Currently, restaurant owners have to pay the levy for foreign workers.
On the possibility that some restaurants might increase their prices, Ramalingam said consumers could boycott them.
Article Source
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