01/10/2025

WEDNESDAY | OCT 1, 2025

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Resilience key to energy future of Malaysia

Seven in 10 veterans turn entrepreneurs

KUALA LUMPUR: Seven of Kuala Lumpur’s most iconic heritage landmarks will be restored by next year as part of the government’s efforts to balance urban development with the preservation of history and culture, said Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming. He said the initiative underscores Malaysia’s commitment to progress without losing sight of its cultural identity. “This is the best testimony of our belief: development must go hand in hand with history, heritage and culture. “Even as Malaysia moves towards becoming a developed nation, our cultural identity remains preserved in our hearts,” he said after launching the 16th International Conference on World Class Sustainable Cities (WCSC) 2025 yesterday. Nga said RM700 million has been allocated this year to revive seven national landmarks, including Carcosa Seri Negara, the Textile Museum, Sultan Abdul Samad Building and the Old General Post Office. “These landmarks and iconic symbols of pride will be given a new face and new life by Visit Malaysia Year 2026, reflecting the values of Madani where cultural identity remains safeguarded and celebrated even as the nation advances towards developed status.” The minister also cited the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry’s latest report, which recognised Malaysia as TEMERLOH: Almost 70% of the 5,000 veterans of the Malaysian Armed Forces who retire each year choose to venture into entrepreneurship, said Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari. He said the ministry remains committed to supporting veterans in securing second careers through various entrepreneurial programmes. “At the Defence Ministry we have a specific programme for veteran entrepreneurs, namely the Malaysian Armed Forces Veteran Entrepreneur Empowerment Programme, carried out in collaboration with Mara and the Rural and Regional Development Ministry, “The programme provides a grant of almost RM1 million per year,“ he told reporters at the “Peduli Veteran Madani” programme in Kampung Pangsenam yesterday. During the event, Adly handed over fish food, patin and tilapia fry to armed forces veterans Norizan Johari, 47, and Mohd Zaid Kamarul Ismail, 40, both of whom are now entrepreneurs in caged fish farming. Adly said the ministry also provides transition training through the Ex-Servicemen Affairs Corporation, which equips retiring personnel with skills in fields such as agriculture, automotive and other industries. “The training is between six and 18 months, depending on the chosen field of expertise. “They can choose to be trained in agriculture, automotive and other industrial fields in preparation for a second career.“ – Bernama Ű BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

o Transitioning to 70% renewable power will require robust storage, smart grids and regional links to avoid collapses such as those seen in Europe, says energy researcher

countries with vital backup when systems are under stress. Malaysia must see the APG as essential to our energy security.” Ultimately, she said success will not be measured by capacity alone, but by whether daily life continues uninterrupted. “The real blackout to fear is not just on the grid, but in the resilience of society itself. Success will mean that lights stay on in hospitals, water flows in our taps, children can study without interruption and businesses can operate without fear of collapse.” Her warning comes as the government accelerates work on the APG by studying the European Union’s cross-border electricity model. Last week, Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Transition Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said Malaysia would work with EU counterparts on harmonised rules, financing frameworks and technical standards to help Asean overcome regulatory and financial hurdles. He confirmed that a memorandum of understanding to strengthen APG cooperation will be signed at the upcoming Asean Energy Ministers’ Meeting.

PETALING Malaysia’s ambition to generate 70% of its electricity from renewable energy (RE) by 2050 can be achieved if resilience is built into every stage of the transition, an energy expert said. Universiti Tenaga Nasional Institute of Energy Policy and Research director Dr Nora Yusma Mohammed Yusoff said the country must not measure progress solely by the number of solar farms built or megawatts installed. Instead, she said Malaysia must fortify the backbone of its power system – storage, stability and interconnections. “This is not about whether renewable energy works. It is whether the system can withstand stress. A modern grid must be designed with resilience as its foundation, not as an afterthought.” Malaysia’s power mix remains dominated by coal and gas, which together make up about 70% of supply. Nora said while this fossil heavy base provides short-term stability, it locks the country into high emissions and leaves it vulnerable to volatile fuel prices. JAYA:

investment and policy reform. “Every large-scale renewable project must be paired with battery storage systems, grid-forming inverters and fast-response reserves to keep the grid stable. “At the same time, regulations and tariffs must reward flexibility and stability, not just cheap generation.” She added that financing should flow to “invisible” but critical parts of the transition such as digitalisation, grid modernisation and storage, not only to visible assets like solar farms and wind turbines. Nora also underlined the importance of regional cooperation, urging Malaysia to treat the Asean Power Grid (APG) as an urgent resilience tool rather than a distant aspiration. “No grid is invincible, but interconnected grids provide

She warned that fragility could set in as renewables grow unless safeguards are deliberately built into the system. She cited the blackout across the Iberian Peninsula in April as a cautionary tale. “The collapse of the Iberian grid left millions in Spain, Portugal and parts of France without electricity for up to a day, disrupting hospitals, transport and businesses. “That blackout was not a failure of renewable energy, but of resilience. High reliance on solar, low system inertia and weak interconnections combined to push a modern grid past breaking point. “Malaysia must learn from this and ensure our transition strengthens both sustainability and security.” Nora said building resilience demands both technological

Heritage icons to get new life amid urban transformation

the most popular and liveable country in Asia. He said tourist arrivals reached 20.6 million in the first half of this year and the number is projected to surpass 41 million by Christmas – higher than Malaysia’s population and the largest figure recorded since independence in 1957. Nga said restored heritage buildings will be given new roles, such as the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, which will serve as a hub for Made in Malaysia brands. “Tourists want authentic local experiences, such as Malaysian coffee, which is why brands like Old Town, Oriental Coffee, Secret Recipe and Kopi KawKaw will be featured at restored heritage sites. “We aspire for these brands to one day become international names, standing shoulder to shoulder with Starbucks and Chagee.” More than 800 participants attended the WCSC 2025, underscoring the event’s role in shaping the future of sustainable cities. “This conference, now in its 16th year, reflects our continuous commitment. I hope such efforts will persist so that Malaysia continues to elevate its stature on the world stage as a global leader in the sustainable development agenda.” He stressed that resilience is not only about strong infrastructure but also about preserving heritage, culture, identity and community values. “For Malaysia, ‘Malaysia Truly Asia’ is more than just a slogan. It reflects harmony and unity in diversity – a

Nga views a scale model of an urban development project during the WCSC 2025 in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Also present was KL Mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif. – ADAM AMIR HAMZAH/THESUN

progressive and ambitious, with accelerated climate adaptation, nature-based solutions like ecological corridors and river restoration, and strong partnerships between the public, private and people sectors. “WCSC 2025 is a true reflection of the Malaysian urban experience and reminds us that development means nothing if it is not anchored in people and places.”

aiming to integrate New Urban Agenda into the Conference of the Parties process under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Brazil next month. “Next year will mark the 10th anniversary of the New Urban Agenda, first proposed by Malaysia, which links climate action with urban transformation. “The way forward must be

strength embodied by Kuala Lumpur, where modern towers stand alongside timeless heritage.” Nga added that all public market projects valued above RM10 billion must now go through both open tender and design competitions to ensure the best results. He also affirmed Malaysia’s readiness to work with global partners through the UN-Habitat Assembly,