http://dapmalaysia.org  

Malaysians Have Lost Confidence In Tenaga Nasional Bhd(TNB)’s Professionalism And Demand That All Reports About The Power Outage On 13/1/2005 Be Made Public To Prevent Any Attempted Cover-up Of Those Responsible Press Statement by Lim Guan Eng (Petaling Jaya, Thursday): DAP regrets that two weeks after the massive power outage on 13/1/2005 Tenaga Nasional Bhd can not let Prime Minister Datuk Abdullah Ahmad Badawi know whether the incident was a direct result by TNB staff or due to a faulty operations system. TNB had not addressed the fundamental question why following the gas leak in the Port Klang switchyard, TNB had 4 hours to decide on the best course of action but took a decision to cause a massive blackout that caused so many problems and millions of ringgit in losses.   The inability of TNB to provide answers and explanations after two weeks is unacceptable. Malaysians have lost confidence in TNB’s professionalism and ability to perform its statutory duty to provide regular supply of electricity. DAP demands that TNB make public all reports about the power outage to prevent any attempted cover-up to protect those responsible or negligent in causing this power outage.  DAP hopes that the Cabinet will stick to its decision that TNB is liable under the law for losses suffered by consumers. Energy Water and Communications Minister Datuk Dr Lim Keng Yaik should honourably resign if he can not carry out his promise on 13/1/12005 that TNB must pay compensaton.   TNB should give a 20% electricity rebate to those who are unable to prove their losses. For those who can, compensation must be paid as was done so during the previous national blackout in 1996. There is no reason why TNB can not pay when it can afford to do so with its RM 8.5 million net profits for the first quarter ending 30 November 2004. TNB made profits of RM 814 million for the year ending 31 August 2004 from the previous year’s RM1.06 billion.  It is morally, ethically and legally correct for TNB to be punished for failing in its primary statutory duty to ensure regular power supply by paying compensation. If power supply can be cut for not paying bills, then Tenaga should likewise be punished for not ensuring supply.   DAP urges consumers who can prove their losses and with claims less than RM 25,000 to pursue the matter with the Consumer Tribunal. By referring to the Consumer Tribunal will be a test case to force TNB to bear full responsibility and determine the effectiveness of the Consumer Tribunal against large Government-linked companies like TNB. (27/1/2005) * Lim Guan Eng, DAP Secretary-General