Warisan queries double-standards: Special power tariffs for select foreign investors
Published on: Thursday, September 12, 2024
.jpg "Warisan queries double-standards: Special power tariffs for select foreign investors")
Wong (left) also addressed the employment figures cite by Phoong (right), stressing the harsh reality faced by Sabahans.
Kota Kinabalu: Warisan Vice President Datuk Junz Wong has taken aim at State Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe who defended the special power tariffs for select foreign investors in Sabah.
“What’s the rationale behind Phoong’s decision that seemingly requires local Sabahan business communities to subsidise foreign investors through higher electricity tariffs, while also facing scheduled power disruptions as foreign investors enjoy steady, uninterrupted electricity supply.
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“While aiming for industrial development and economic growth is commendable, how does this justify the disparity in treatment between foreign corporations and our local communities?” Wong said in a statement, here.
“Phoong praised Sarawak’s investment strategies, but I must ask: Did Sarawak ever require its local businesses to pay higher electricity tariffs so that foreign investors could enjoy a cheaper rate?” he said, highlighting the increasing utility costs and frequent disruptions faced by the local population.
Expressing deep concerns about the economic impact on local businesses, Wong questioned the policy that effectively makes local enterprises subsidise the utilities of foreign firms.
“Is it reasonable that our local businesses subsidise foreign tariffs for barely 4,000 jobs? This approach is neither sustainable nor fair,” he said.
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The Tanjung Aru Assemblyman affirmed Warisan’s commitment to press for a strategic review of investment policies to ensure they are inclusive and equitable.
“We will review these policies to focus on the needs of Sabahans. The ultimate goal of attracting foreign investors should be to improve the lives of Sabahans, shouldn’t it?” he said.
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Wong also addressed the employment figures cite by Phoong, stressing the harsh reality faced by Sabahans.
“Don’t try to fool Sabahans. More Sabahans cannot find jobs under the administration of the GRS- PH Plus,” he said, citing data from the Sabah Employers Association (SEA) to support his claim.
Data from the SEA recorded 11,395 SME companies that closed down between 2019 and 2022. Unemployment figures further paint a bleak picture, with 165,600 Sabahans jobless in 2023, and the number climbing to 180,000 in 2024.
“Statistics and figures don’t lie. Unemployment continues to rise under your so-called good policy,” Wong said.
He pointed out the growing job crisis in Sabah and questioned the effective of the current government’s strategies to combat it. “We must foster an environment where both foreign and local entities can thrive without compromising the quality of life for local Sabahans.
“The same favourable conditions offered to foreign investors should be accessible to local businesses and residents. Sabahans must be prioritised first, above all else,” he said, emphasising the importance of sustainable and beneficial growth for all Sabahans.
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