Beri insentif kepada syarikat solar untuk kurang kos, kata Akmal

Dr Akmal Saleh, the Umno Youth Leader, proposes the government provide subsidies to solar companies to expand solar installation services and lower costs, making renewable energy more affordable for Malaysians. He believes increased competition among solar providers will help reduce installation costs, encouraging more households to adopt solar power.

Akmal, who represents Merlimau constituency, suggests that healthy competition can drive down prices and make solar installations more accessible. If the government continues relying on subsidies to cover higher electricity generation costs, the national financial burden might increase as oil prices rise. He emphasizes that investing in solar adoption can help households reduce their dependence on grid-supplied electricity in the long run.

In response to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's statement, Akmal highlights the upcoming meeting between several ministries and Tenaga Nasional Bhd to discuss ways to mitigate the impact of rising electricity bills amid extreme heat and drought. Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, attributes recent heatwaves and high temperatures to increased electricity consumption for some households, pushing their monthly usage above the 600kWh threshold, triggering the automatic fuel subsidy mechanism (Afa).

Two ministries, Finance and Energy Transition and Transformation, are scheduled to meet today to address the issue. Earlier this year, the government introduced the Sustainable Rebate and Incentive Assistance (SuRIA Home) initiative, offering RM3,000 cash rebates for households installing rooftop solar power systems.