Give incentives for solar firms to cut costs, Akmal urges govt

Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh has called on the government to incentivize solar companies to expand their installation services and lower costs, making solar power a more viable option for Malaysian households. Akmal, the Merlimau assemblyman, argued that greater competition among solar providers would help bring down installation costs, making solar energy more affordable and accessible.

He warned that relying on government subsidies to offset higher electricity generation costs could worsen the country's financial burden when fuel prices rise. Akmal urged the government to invest in helping people adopt solar energy, which could ultimately reduce households' dependence on grid-supplied electricity in the long run.

His comments came in response to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's announcement that several ministries would convene with the Energy Commission and Tenaga Nasional Bhd to discuss strategies for mitigating the impact of higher electricity bills due to the recent haze and hotter weather. Anwar, who serves as both the Prime Minister and Finance Minister, stated that the haze and heat had caused some households to exceed the 600kWh threshold for monthly electricity usage, triggering the Automatic Fuel Adjustment mechanism.

The two ministries, the finance ministry and the energy transition and water transformation ministry, were set to meet today to explore potential solutions. Earlier this year, the government launched the Sustainable Rebate and Incentive Assistance Home initiative, providing Malaysian households with cash rebates of up to RM3,000 for installing rooftop solar power systems.