President tells parliament electricity fee hike will go on

The message said,”The electricity fee hikes will become effective from the coming fiscal year (2014-15) as it’s based on a long-term planning for the sake of the people and sustainability of the country’s economy.”

MPs said that it needs the people’s support for the decision, and the parliament which represents the people, protested the move with no aims to interfere in the government administration.

“What the parliament said is that the electricity ministry is required to submit a review about the issue to the parliament at the beginning of the next fiscal year. But the president’s message says the hikes will surely begin in the fiscal year. It means that no review is needed from the parliament. And my view is different. We will discuss more about the issue at the parliament,” said MP Aye Mouk for Ma Hlaing Constituency. He submitted the urgent proposal about the hikes to the parliament.

“Public services are meant for the people. But this means only the government (has a say). Actually the government should be only for the people. It should present a reasonable report about the issue if it’s for the sake of the people. And it lays no stress on the people’s desire if the hikes are due to economic losses from the electricity service,” said MP Min Thu for Okktayathiri Constituency.

“The administration has its own role. The electricity fee hike is its issue. The parliament has nothing to say. But the parliament represents the people. The people’s voice is the parliament’s voice. If the people disagree, the parliament should not be agreed with what the government does. The parliament should voice what should be and what should not,” said MP Khine Maung Ye for Ahlone Constituency.

The parliament decided on November 17 to scrap the government’s plan to increase electricity fees as of this month until the next fiscal year, when it is expected to go ahead only after it has been scrutinized at the parliamentary level. 

The electricity ministry permitted local private companies to distribute electricity in 84 townships before this July.

The permitted companies comprised just more than 20 companies including Gold Energy Co.,Ltd under the ownership of Tun Myint Naing’s Asia World Company which has several business permits in the country, Chit Khine’s Adim Energy and Natural Resources Development Company which made lots of profits from rice industry, Dr Ko Ko’s Capital Development Ltd which also several business permits in the country, and Ruby Dragon Company which became rich from gems business.