By Debra Chong | June 02, 2011
The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, June 2 — Citing legal precedents, DAP lawmaker Tony Pua told the prime minister today to stop dithering and immediately declassify the contentious power purchasing agreements (PPAs) inked with independent power producers (IPPs).

Datuk Seri Najib Razak said on Tuesday the government would look into making public the contracts between national utility company Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) and the IPPs in the face of mounting criticism.

“There’s really nothing left to consider. He should just get the decision approved in the next Cabinet meeting,” Pua (picture) told The Malaysian Insider in response to the PM’s comment.

“Precedents have been set with the highway concession and the PKFZ contracts,” the Petaling Jaya Utara MP said, referring to the 2009 declassification of highway toll concessions and the multi-billion ringgit Port Klang Free Zone scandal which is being tried in the courts now.

The Attorney-General had pledged to open the books on the PKFZ deals following former Transport Minister Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik’s indictment for corruption.

Public anger has swelled against the Najib administration after it announced an average 7.1 per cent jump in electricity tariffs, effective yesterday, which is expected to rev up the price of consumer goods, including food, and increase household spending.

The opposition has repeatedly said the federal gas subsidy granted to IPPs through “lopsided agreements” would hamper Malaysia’s ability to curb rising inflation.

Pua, who is also DAP publicity chief, challenged Najib to live up to his government transformation reform pledges of transparency and accountability over public interest contracts and issues by immediately declassifying the power deals.

“There’s nothing more ‘public interest’ than the PPAs which were signed with the IPPs at this point of time as the government is seeking to increase electricity tariffs without making the IPPs share the burden,” he said.

Pua had sounded the call to declassify the PPAs last month following Putrajaya’s latest move in an ongoing series to snip fuel subsidies set to soar to RM18 billion this year, which Najib has likened to “opium” addiction.