Slapped with RM2,400 bill

TENANTS of a house in Taman Inderawasih, Prai, allegedly released fierce dogs to chase away Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) staff who came to cut the electricity supply and remove the meter after five months of bills were left unpaid.

The house owner was then billed RM2,439.63 — more than double the RM1,104 he had volunteered to pay to cover the outstanding bills from Dec 2007 to April 2008.

Liew Chin Tong said he had written and spoken to a manager at the TNB office in Penang and was told that Goh had to pay the amount but was allowed to pay in instalments.

“Since it is not Goh’s fault, as the officers had not cut off the electricity due to the lame excuse of fierce dogs in the compound, I think it is only right for them to waive the difference of RM1,335.47,” he added.

Goh Yak Mah, 62, said he first requested TNB to cut the supply and remove the meter after terminating the tenancy agreement in February 2008.

“But when I went to check on my request in May, I was shocked by a TNB staff member telling me that due to fierce dogs released in the compound, they could only cut the electricity supply and remove the meter in October last year after the tenants had vacated the house.

“And now, TNB says that I have pay RM2,439.63,” he told a press conference called by Bukit Bendera MP Liew Chin Tong at his service centre in Penang yesterday.

Liew said he had written and spoken to a manager at the TNB office in Penang and was told that Goh had to pay the amount but was allowed to pay in instalments.

“Since it is not Goh’s fault, as the officers had not cut off the electricity due to the lame excuse of fierce dogs in the compound, I think it is only right for them to waive the difference of RM1,335.47,” he added.

Liew also provided photocopies of a reply letter signed by TNB general manager (distribution) Abdul Aziz Jaafar on Sept 1 this year stating that TNB had cut off the electricity supply on Feb 27, 2008, after the complainant had asked them to do so.

The letter also stated that TNB suspected that the electricity supply was reconnected illegally without permission from TNB.

“TNB had then again took measures to cut the electricity supply and remove the meter on May 7 last year, but was not allowed to do so by the tenant, as he let loose his fierce dogs,” the letter added.

“TNB staff had also tried various times to call Goh to get his assistance to enter the house premises but to no avail.

“Only on Oct 21 last year, the house owner and TNB made an appointment to meet at the house to settle the problem and managed to remove the meter as the tenants had moved out of the house,’’ the letter read.

It was also stated in the letter that the amount could not be waived as Goh being the house owner was obligated to pay the full amount, but he could do so in instalments.

The Star