17/06/2025

TUESDAY | JUNE 17, 2025

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TNB commits RM43 billion to modernise power grid

Gulf conflict a concern but oil industry stable: Anwar KUALA LUMPUR: The ongoing Israel-Iran conflict is not expected to significantly impact the global oil industry or destabilise price mechanisms, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Speaking after a closed-door meeting with Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) secretary-general Haitham Al Ghais and top oil industry players, Anwar said stakeholders were monitoring the situation closely but remained cautiously optimistic. “Of course, they are monitoring the situation closely, but it does not necessarily hurt the industry or price mechanisms. We hope the conflict can be resolved much earlier,” he said on the sidelines of the Energy Asia 2025 conference in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. When asked about specific risks to energy supply, Anwar acknowledged concerns over a potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic maritime route critical for global oil and liquefied natural gas exports. He added that the security of key trade routes in the Middle East remained a closely watched factor in global energy markets. Despite regional tensions, Anwar announced several major investments from international energy giants, including Total, Italy based ENI and Saudi Aramco, which he said underscored confidence in Malaysia’s energy sector and Petronas’ leadership. “Several key agreements related to investments in Malaysia will be signed at the Energy Asia 2025 Conference, which will be held over three days,” he said. The conference also features a closed-door CEO session involving top leaders from the oil and gas, energy, finance, technology and professional services sectors. The session aims to chart a collective path to stimulate investment, enhance coordination, and accelerate technology adoption across Asia’s energy landscape. Held from June 16 to 18, the Energy Asia 2025 Conference carries the theme “Delivering Asia’s Energy” and serves as a key regional platform to assess energy transition progress and reaffirm national commitments to net-zero targets. – Bernama gazetted – is awaiting its enforcement date. The Act will come into effect once Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil signs the enforcement order. Once in force, the law will allow for immediate regulatory action against harmful online content and introduce a statutory duty of care on platform providers. An online safety committee will also be formed to define and classify online harms, although child-related matters will remain governed under the Child Act 2001.

Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Capture, Utilisation and Storage Bill 2025 and Petronas’ plans to establish three CCS hubs in offshore waters. “Petronas is leading the charge, working with over 10 international partners including firms from Japan, South Korea, and global energy giants such as Total and Shell,” he said. The prime minister reaffirmed Malaysia’s commitment to a balanced energy transition anchored in equity, sustainability and national security. “Our energy transition must go beyond supply stability. It must include social justice and inclusive access,” he said. The Energy Asia 2025 conference, hosted by Petronas from June 16 to 18, brings together energy leaders and policymakers under the theme “Delivering Asia’s Energy Transition”, and is regarded as a key platform for regional climate and clean energy cooperation.

financial framework to boost investor confidence and unlock capital for renewable energy development across Southeast Asia. Despite the region’s vast potential, it received just 2% of global clean energy investment last year. “Wind in Vietnam, hydropower in Laos, solar in Malaysia, geothermal in Indonesia. We are not discounting these possibilities. But they require enormous investments,” he said. He also highlighted recent Asean commitments to accelerate the Asean Power Grid initiative, supported by a dedicated financing facility to drive cross-border energy trade and integration. “The push for interconnectivity goes beyond trade or diplomacy. It extends into energy, the very lifeblood of modern economies,” he said. Anwar noted Malaysia’s leadership in carbon capture and storage (CCS), citing the Carbon

Convention Centre yesterday. He said Malaysia’s energy transition strategy is rooted in realism and social equity, warning that an abrupt shift away from fossil fuels would be both impractical and unjust. “Fossil fuels still account for nearly 80% of global energy supply. While we embrace decarbonisation, we cannot abruptly abandon traditional energy sources,” he said. He stressed that decarbonisation efforts must not come at the expense of the poor or hinder national development, especially as rising demand from AI, data centres and digital infrastructure strains energy systems. “Expecting countries to end fossil fuel use overnight is ridiculous,” he said. “Ensuring universal access to affordable, reliable energy is not just a moral imperative, it is the foundation of a just transition.” Anwar called for a coherent

‘No need to dissolve economy ministry’ KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has stressed that there is no necessity to dissolve the Economy Ministry and any new ministerial appointment will only be made at an appropriate time. Anwar explained that the Economy Ministry, which was formerly the Economic Planning Unit under the Prime Minister’s Department, was elevated to a full ministry during Pakatan Harapan’s first administration. “There is no issue of a change (in ministerial structure). The structure is determined by the Cabinet and me, so for now, I don’t see any need for a reshuffle,” he said yesterday. On the 13th Malaysia Plan scheduled to be tabled in Parliament this July, Anwar said it is a collective responsibility of the Cabinet, with the Economy Ministry serving as the main secretariat. He added that various adjustments and reforms are underway in light of the changing economic landscape, including tariff revisions that are impacting key national projections. – Bernama Anwar made the announcement during his keynote address at the opening of the Energy Asia 2025 conference at the Kuala Lumpur KUALA Malaysia’s national power grid is set for a major upgrade, with Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) committing RM43 billion to modernise and strengthen the country’s energy infrastructure. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the investment will incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) and battery energy storage systems to enhance the grid’s resilience and flexibility in the face of growing demand. “TNB has committed RM43 billion to upgrade our national grid infrastructure. It will incorporate AI and battery energy storage systems to build greater resilience and flexibility for the future,” he said. LUMPUR:

COMMS ON WHEELS ... The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) yesterday officially launched the Mobile Integrated Radio and Internet Communication System or PRIME, an integrated communication platform designed to support emergency and disaster relief operations carried out by MCMC and frontline rescue teams. – BERNAMAPIC

Malaysia needs comprehensive AI-focused laws

like the EU’s AI Act, which categorises risks and defines responsibilities, to see how they can inform Malaysia’s approach,” she said. She also highlighted broader efforts to digitise the judicial system, including the use of voice-to-text transcription and online filing, noting that such systems must extend beyond Putrajaya to district courts nationwide. Gobind had earlier announced that a detailed proposal on Malaysia’s AI regulatory roadmap, currently being finalised by the National Artificial Intelligence Office, would be ready by

on developing AI-specific laws. “I’ve proposed a meeting between the Legal Affairs Division and the Digital Ministry to explore a legislative framework for AI,” she said. Azalina stressed that AI operates on a fundamentally different paradigm from conventional technologies and cannot be governed under existing legal frameworks. She pointed to the European Union’s AI Act – the world’s first comprehensive AI legislation – as a model Malaysia could study and adapt to local needs. “We must look at global frameworks

the end of June. The roadmap may include new legislation, regulatory rules or standard setting frameworks. Azalina also called for stronger corporate accountability laws, citing the recent fatal bus crash in Gerik that claimed 15 lives. “We need serious policy discussions around corporate negligence and potential laws on corporate manslaughter, especially when public safety is compromised,” she said. Separately, she confirmed that the Online Safety Act 2024 – which has been

Ű BY KIRTINEE RAMESH newsdesk@thesundaily.com

BANGI: Malaysia must introduce dedicated legislation to regulate artificial intelligence (AI) and mitigate its associated risks, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said yesterday. Speaking after her ministry’s monthly assembly and the launch of the National Legal Academy, Azalina confirmed she had formally written to Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo to initiate discussions