Endorsement

Kedah UMNO Division Heads Meeting, 17 September 2013

In a meeting in Seri Mentaloon, Alor Setar last night Kedah Menteri Besar and UMNO Liaison Chief Dato’ Paduka Mukhriz Mahathir last night received overwhelming support from all UMNO Division Heads in Kedah, to go for the Vice President post.

Published: Wednesday September 18, 2013 MYT 12:00:00 AM
Updated: Wednesday September 18, 2013 MYT 2:15:01 PM

Kedah MB gets the green light from state division leaders

BY SIRA HABIBU
SIRA@THESTAR.COM.MY

PETALING JAYA: Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Paduka Mukhriz Mahathir (pic) has received unanimous support from state Umno division leaders to contest the vice-president post.

The decision was made during a meeting with divison leaders last night.

If Mukhriz decides to join in the fray, he will be the game changer in a tight six-cornered fight among heavyweights for the three vice-president seats.

“Insya Allah (God Willing), I will make an announcement on Thursday,” said Mukhriz.

So far Felda chairman Tan Sri Isa Samad and former Malacca chief minister Datuk Seri Ali Rustam have announced their intention to take on incumbents Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein and Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal.

Mukhriz is son of fourth prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, while Hishammuddin is the son of third prime minister Tun Hussein Onn.

Political pundits and netizens were all abuzz yesterday when news that Mukhriz had called Kedah Umno leaders for a meeting last night broke.

Mukhriz is said to have met the leaders including those from Umno wings at his official residence in Alor Setar.

According to a source, he called for the meeting to gauge their feedback before making a final decision.

Langkawi Umno division chief Datuk Nawawi Ahmad said should Mukhriz contest the vice-president post and win, he could help rejuvenate Umno.

“The younger generation in Umno views Mukhriz as an icon.

“Barisan Nasional was able to wrest control of Kedah from PAS because of substantial support from young voters.

“We need to get younger leaders like Mukhriz to play a greater role in the party as we need to prepare for the next general election where the younger generation makes up more than 40% of the voters,” he said.

Sungai Petani Umno division chief Datuk Ali Yahaya said Mukhriz was a rational person who was not likely to let external pressure influence his decision.

“Whichever position he will vie for, we will support him, and people in the northern corridor want to see him soar high,” he said.

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Later this afternoon, sources from Perdana Putra said that Mukhriz would call on Deputy Prime Minister and UMNO Deputy President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Mohd. Yassin. Later in the evening, same sources said that he would also meet Prime Minister and UMNO President Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak.

These meetings are in line on what Home Minister and UMNO Vice President Dato’ Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s advice to Mukhriz a few days ago. In short, Mukhriz has sought the ‘endorsement’ from top leadership to offer himself.

If this endorsement is obtained, then it could be viewed as an endorsement for UMNO to have a leadership succession plan. This a high level extension to the UMNO democratization, promised by Prime Minister Najib in his acceptance speech as 7th UMNO President on 28 March 2009.

In all anticipation, Mukhriz is expected to make his announcement for his candidacy of the UMNO Vice President post at Seri Mentaloon, Alor Setar at 400pm tomorrow.

Power Rangers

Source of power (Re: Energy Commission)

Power is a very important element in the factors of production for an industrialised nation like Malaysia. It will define the competitiveness of produce by Malaysia, since other factors of production like wages inevitably have to be increased due to the corresponding cost of living. The cost for power is heavily dependent on the cost of energy, since 77% of power generation in this country is based on hydrocarbon.

45% of power generation is based from gas powered power producers.

The Federal Government is expected to approve the tariff adjustment by TNB from 2014, based on the revision of cost of natural gas charged to the power producers. At present day, the cost of natural gas passed to power generators is more than 65% lesser than the market price.

19 August 2013| last updated at 06:47PM

TNB: Tariff adjustment will not burden consumers

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KUALA LUMPUR: Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) has given assurance that the proposed electricity tariff adjustment, if approved by the government, will not burden consumers.

In fact, TNB president and chief executive officer, Datuk Seri Ir Azman Mohd, said domestic users who consumed less than 200 kWh a month would not see any increase in their monthly bill due to the tariff adjustment.

“About half of our eight million consumers are those who consume less than 200 kWh and have a monthly bill of less than RM70. They will not see any increase in their bills and will not be burdened.

“However, if the tariff adjustment is approved, it will be reasonable…the people need not to worry, it will not be a double or a triple increase…there is a certain percentage, but it will not be that high,” he told reporters at the TNB Aidilfitri do here today.

Also present was TNB chairman Tan Sri Leo Moggie.

Azman said the final decision on the new tariff would be made by the government based on inputs and information given by TNB.

“…many meetings have been convened to discuss the matter,

“We are confident that the government will give its fair considerations to all quarters, including consumers and the industry players,” he said.

Azman said electricity tariff adjustment, should it be made in the future, was due to the hike in the price of fuel, and not to increase TNB’s profit.

“TNB is neutral, we have nothing to lose, the company that is suffering losses now is Petronas as it has to pay such a high price to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) as fuel,” he said.

Azman said currently, Petronas fixed the price of gas to generate electricity at RM13.70 per MMBtu, a rate much lower than the market price of RM40 per MMBtu. — BERNAMA

Read more: TNB: Tariff adjustment will not burden consumers – Latest – New Straits Timeshttp://www.nst.com.my/latest/tnb-tariff-adjustment-will-not-burden-consumers-1.340379#ixzz2fBNYUzXp

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The current natural gas priced charged by Petronas is RM13.70 per MMBtu. It has been revised from RM10.70 per MMBtu even though the current market price is RM40.00 per MMBtu. The current tariff is also calculated based on the coal price of USD85.00 per toned (CIF). Coal powered generators contribute slightly lesser than 20% of power generation.

The current progressive incremented tariff for homes and dwellings:

Tariff RatesPrint this page “Domestic Consumer” means a consumer occupying a private dwelling, which is not used as a hotel, boarding house or used for the purpose of carrying out any form of business, trade, professional activities or services. TARIFF CATEGORY UNIT RATES 1. Tariff A – Domestic Tariff For the first 200 kWh (1 – 200 kWh) per month sen/kWh 21.8 For the next 100 kWh (201 – 300 kWh) per month sen/kWh 33.4 For the next 100 kWh (301 – 400 kWh) per month sen/kWh 40.0 For the first 100kWh (401 – 500 kWh) per month sen/kWh 40.2 For the next 100 kWh (501 – 600 kWh) per month sen/kWh 41.6 For the next 100 kWh (601 – 700 kWh) per month sen/kWh 42.6 For the next 100 kWh (701 – 800 kWh) per month sen/kWh 43.7 For the next 100 kWh (801 – 900 kWh) per month sen/kWh 45.3 For the next kWh (901 kWh onwards) per month sen/kWh 45.4 The minimum monthly charge is RM3.00

Minister-in-charge of Federal Government key performance indicators Dato’ Seri Idris Jala explained in his blog posting that the burden of cost is translated in our everyday lives in one form or another. This include cost of energy and power generation.

“If subsidies to independent power producers and oil companies are removed, then we don’t need to increase petrol and diesel prices. Right? No, wrong – simply because we don’t give subsidies to them.

The notion that if subsidies for corporations are removed then we can continue to subsidise the public, is not just a mere over-simplification of subsidy rationalisation but incorrect. Unfortunately it is repeatedly trotted out to put every move that the government takes towards subsidy rationalisation in an extremely unfavourable light.

In the context of the recent 20-sen increase in the price per litre of diesel and RON95 petrol it is wrong to say that this could be avoided if subsidies to independent power producers (IPPs) and oil companies are removed.

The simple, unvarnished truth is this – the government does not at all subsidise IPPs or oil companies – not one sen.”

The low cost of natural gas charged by Petronas to the power producers means that tariff of electricity that Malaysians enjoy in the everyday lives be it reflected in the cost of production, cost of operation, cost of sales or even mere in schools, hospitals and homes is at where it is. Unequivocally, Malaysians should pro-actively contribute to utilise the demand for energy and usage of power effectively.

The trending growth of Malaysia as a net importer of hydrocarbon

The debate will now trot on should the burden of cost of production, production or sales be burdened by Petronas or there should be pro-active initiatives for industries and commercial entities to produce more efficiently, increase production and sale and thus, capitalise of the economies of scale. There is a trending growth for Malaysia as a net importer of hydrocarbon, particularly crude oil.

Growth in Federal Government expenditure

Then again, there is the added argument that a balance between the cost of power generation and maximise returns reliasable should be strived so that more could be derived by Federal Government from Petronas  in the form of taxes, royalties and dividends and eventually channeled to more deserving expenditures.

Federal Government Income Vs Expenditure 2011-3

The annual Federal Government expenditure is growing and there is the notion that the annual percentage of GDP deficit have to be reduced. The demand for the interest of the majority to be looked after in the ambit increased cost of living is an added burden to the Federal Government. It is expected that specific programs would be announced in the Bajet 2014.

Then again Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak’s Bumiputera Economic Plan and Strategy announced on Saturday fortified the need to address the growing socio-economic disparity between Bumiputera and Non Bumiputera. Although the necessary adjustments are required to mitigate the underlying factors and implementation of these policies and transformation plan.