Parti Warisan president and Sabah opposition chief Mohd Shafie Apdal questioned the state government’s decision to raise electricity tariffs while power supply remains unreliable and living costs are already high.

“The government has described the increase as inevitable and minimal,” Shafie said.

“But such assurances cannot replace accountability when basic services have yet to meet acceptable standards.”

He said Sabahans should not be forced to pay more when electricity supply problems persist.

“When basic services fail, people should not be asked to pay more,” he said, stressing that electricity is a basic necessity.

Shafie warned that the increase would not only mean higher household bills, but would also raise operating costs for businesses, push up prices of goods and services, weaken small businesses and reduce spending power across Sabah.

“The real issue is whether the government has fixed the root problems in Sabah’s power system before passing the cost to consumers,” he said.

Shafie also highlighted Sabah’s heavy dependence on Independent Power Producers, noting that many power supply contracts were signed years ago and should now be reviewed to ensure the state is not paying more than it should.

He urged the state government to clearly explain how the new tariff was calculated, to review IPP agreements, and to improve efficiency and management within Sabah Electricity.

“Electricity is a basic necessity. Sabahans should not be asked to pay more while supply problems persist,” he said.