{
  "id": 8925489,
  "title": "Pemimpin MCA gesa ambang perlindungan bil elektrik dinaikkan lagi",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/pemimpin-mca-gesa-ambang-perlindungan-bil-elektrik-dinaikkan-lagi",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-21T12:41:46.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/bahasa/tempatan/2026/09/21/pemimpin-mca-gesa-ambang-perlindungan-bil-elektrik-dinaikkan-lagi"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Naib Presiden MCA, Lawrence Low, has urged the government to consider raising the subsidy threshold for electricity bills to 1,200 kWj per month. In an interview, Low explained that a slight increase from 600 kWj to 800 kWj would provide some immediate relief to households. However, he emphasized that the government should continue to review the threshold to a higher level of 1,200 kWj with a progressive mechanism, so that households do not face a sudden increase in electricity bills when usage exceeds the limit. Low also pointed out that assistance should decrease gradually as usage increases, rather than being cut off abruptly once the limit is exceeded. He stressed that ensuring stable electricity costs does not mean encouraging wastage; instead, it should allow households to allocate more income towards investments in air conditioning, washing machines, computers, electric vehicles, and other energy-efficient technologies. On Thursday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that the government would expand electricity subsidies for domestic users to 800 kWj per month, up from the previous 600 kWj, until the end of the year. Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, had previously stated that the recent extreme heat and rain had led to a surge in household electricity consumption, causing some users to exceed the 600 kWj limit and face the Automatic Oil Consumption Adjustment (AFA) charge and Sales and Services Tax (SST). Low called for the 8% increase in SST applied to domestic electricity usage to be reviewed and reduced to 6% or lower. He also suggested that the government should reconsider and potentially lower the basic electricity tariff under the Fourth Energy Pricing Review (RP4) from 45.40 sen/kWj to 39.95 sen/kWj under RP3.",
  "summary": "Naib Presiden MCA, Lawrence Low, mencadangkan perlindungan dilanjutkan kepada 1,200 kWj dengan mekanisme progresif.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Pemimpin MCA gesa ambang perlindungan bil elektrik dinaikkan lagi",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/pemimpin-mca-gesa-ambang-perlindungan-bil-elektrik-dinaikkan-lagi-8928955",
        "published": "2026-09-21T12:41:46.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}