Joint management bodies (JMB) of high-rise buildings in four states and the Federal Territory want a special tariff for electricity to be introduced.

They are asking the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry to intervene in the matter.

Tanjong MP Ng Wei Aik said the JMBs and other management corporations from Penang, Perak, Selangor, Johor and Kuala Lumpur had submitted 403 petitions to the ministry.

“They are asking for a new policy to help them cope with the high electricity tariff.

“We want the ministry to urge Tenaga Nasional Berhad to set a new tariff for residential complexes without the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

“Flats, condominiums, serviced apartments and gated communities should be allowed to have a new tariff that is higher than the tariff for residential premises but much lower than tariffs for commercial premises and with a flat rate,” he said.

He added that the tariff should cover all common areas and facilities in residential high-rise buildings such as the corridors, surau, lifts, water pumps, community halls and management offices.

At a recent press conference in Anson Road in Penang, Ng said that currently, the electricity commercial tariff for high-rise buildings was higher than the tariff imposed on other residential units.

“To add to it, there was a 15% electricity hike earlier this year, and with the GST imposed next year, there will be a 6% hike on top of that,” he said,

“The commercial tariff is subject to GST and there is no way of avoiding it.”

He said that the issue required the urgent intervention of the ministry.

“We hope something can be put in place before April 1,” he said.

He added that residential buildings with more than 300 units would be subjected to the GST.

A total of 366 petitions were from Penang while the rest came from the other states and Kuala Lumpur.

Source: StarProperty.my