30/03/2026

MONDAY | MAR 30, 2026

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Shift to EVs shows long-term strategy: Auto leader

Chicken processing firm fined RM30,000 ALOR SETAR: A chicken slaughtering company in Bukit Pinang was fined RM30,000 by the Sessions Court here yesterday for failing to comply with industrial effluent discharge standards in Alor Setar. Kedah Environment Department director Sharifah Zakiah Syed Sahab said the company was imposed the fine after pleading guilty to two charges under the Environmental Quality Act 1974. On the first count, the company was charged with releasing effluent containing concentrations of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5 at 20°C), suspended solids and ammonia nitrogen exceeding the limits set in Standard B, Fifth Schedule. The second charge was for releasing effluent containing chemical oxygen demand exceeding the limits set in Standard B, Seventh Schedule. The offences were detected during an integrated enforcement operation conducted on July 22 last year, during which department officers collected samples from the Final Discharge Point at the company’s industrial effluent treatment system. The samples were later analysed by the Chemistry Department, confirming breaches of environmental regulations. Sessions Court judge N. Priscilla Hemamalini imposed the fine after the company director, representing the firm, pleaded guilty to both charges. – Bernama Five arrested after thrashing victim’s car KOTA KINABALU: Police have detained five men over a widely spread video showing a group hitting a vehicle at a traffic light junction near Jesselton Quay here. Acting Kota Kinabalu district police chief Supt Syed Lot Syed Ab Rahman said a 30-year-old teacher lodged a police report at 2.35pm yesterday claiming to be the victim in the incident, Bernama reported. He said the incident is believed to have occurred at 1.45pm on the same day after the teacher had attended an event at the Sabah International Convention Centre. “Preliminary investigations found that while the complainant was heading to his vehicle in a parking area near a warehouse belonging to a courier company at Kota Kinabalu Port, he encountered several individuals believed to be employees of the company. “A verbal provocation took place before the situation escalated, causing the complainant to reverse his vehicle and inadvertently collide with another vehicle. “Several individuals chased the complainant’s vehicle and acted aggressively by smashing the driver’s side window and the rear windscreen.” Syed Lot said the case is being probed under Section 427 and Section 506 of the Penal Code.

for cleaner energy. As charging demand rises, it creates greater incentives for renewable energy development.” Nagel highlighted the National Energy Transition Roadmap as a key framework guiding the shift towards cleaner energy. Over time, as the grid incorporates more renewables, EVs automatically become cleaner, a flexibility that conventional vehicles cannot match. Beyond long-term emissions reductions, he said EVs offer immediate environmental benefits in urban areas. “Electric vehicles produce zero tailpipe emissions, eliminating localised air pollutants, which is crucial in dense cities such as Kuala Lumpur,” he noted. “They also generate less heat waste and are significantly quieter, helping to reduce noise pollution.” He said these advantages improve air quality and urban liveability, reinforcing EVs’ role not only in climate mitigation, but also in enhancing quality of life in Malaysian cities. As Malaysia navigates its energy transition, Nagel emphasised that EV adoption and cleaner energy development must progress hand in hand to deliver meaningful and lasting impact.

o Benefits of switch include fuel savings, superior driving dynamics, reduced maintenance, lower life cycle costs

Ű BY KIRTINEE RAMESH newsdesk@thesundaily.com

charging manufacturing capabilities and partnerships to develop Malaysian talent in EV technology. “We are building an ecosystem for sustainable premium mobility that will serve Malaysia for decades to come, regardless of short-term market fluctuations.” Addressing concerns that Malaysia may not yet be ready for large-scale EV adoption due to its reliance on fossil fuels, Nagel maintained that EVs still deliver environmental benefits. “Even today, an electric vehicle produces a lower total carbon footprint compared with a comparable combustion engine vehicle, and this advantage grows when powered by renewable energy.” He added that delaying EV adoption until the energy grid is fully renewable risks creating a chicken-and-egg dilemma. He said rising demand for EVs could instead drive investment in renewable energy, energy storage and grid modernisation. “EV adoption strengthens the business case infrastructure,

PETALING JAYA: Surging global fuel prices may spark short-term interest in electric vehicles (EVs), but industry experts say Malaysia’s shift to electric mobility is a long-term strategic move, not a reaction to market swings. BMW Group Malaysia managing director Benjamin Nagel said rising fuel costs might encourage some consumers and businesses to explore EVs, but the decision to go electric should not be seen as a stopgap response. “Electric mobility is fundamentally a long-term story. “The value proposition goes far beyond fuel savings. It includes superior driving dynamics, reduced maintenance, lower life cycle costs, a more refined driving experience and zero tailpipe emissions.” Since introducing plug-in hybrid vehicles in 2015, BMW Group Malaysia has pursued a strategic, long-term approach, investing in local

Nagel said rising demand for EVs could drive investment in renewable energy, energy storage and grid modernisation. – MASRY CHE ANI/THE SUN

Power sector’s fossil fuel dependence blunts environmental benefits PETALING JAYA: Even as Malaysians switch to electric vehicles (EVs), the country’s dependence on fossil fuels for electricity means the move may do little to cut greenhouse gas emissions, environmental experts say. The picture improves in regions with cleaner energy. In Sarawak, where renewables account for roughly 60% of electricity generation, EV emissions drop sharply to just 68gCO ĸ e/km. “Effective solutions require more greenery and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, not just cleaner vehicles.” Adam also urged the government to commit to phasing out coal and fossil gas from the national grid by 2050, adding that without these measures, EV adoption alone would fail to deliver significant emissions reductions.

However, EVs do offer other environmental benefits, particularly in reducing air and noise pollution. Adam cited a joint study by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air and Greenpeace Malaysia, which found that air pollution contributes to an estimated 32,000 premature deaths annually and economic losses of RM303 billion each year. He emphasised that EV adoption should complement, not replace, public transport, calling for a comprehensive national strategy to enhance connectivity, including better first and last-mile solutions in urban, suburban and rural areas. “This should include the rapid expansion of buses, trams and emerging options such as autonomous rapid transit.”

He raised concerns over the growing popularity of large electric SUVs, which consume more resources to manufacture and operate. He proposed a tiered annual tax to discourage oversized models. 0 EVs below 1,500kg: RM500 0 EVs 1,500kg–1,800kg: RM1,500 0 EVs above 1,800kg: RM3,000 He also suggested introducing congestion charges in city centres with strong public transport. “Without the right policies in place, EV adoption risks replicating existing transport challenges rather than solving them.” – BY KIRTINEE RAMESH

“This demonstrates that EVs can only make a meaningful dent in emissions if Malaysia commits to phasing out fossil fuels from the power sector.” Adam said national policies, including the National Energy Transition Roadmap, continue to prioritise fossil gas, potentially undermining decarbonisation efforts across energy and transport sectors. On whether EVs could reduce urban heat in Malaysian cities, he noted that the impact would be minimal. “EVs produce less heat than conventional vehicles due to higher efficiency, but the main culprit for urban heat is poor city planning and the replacement of green spaces with asphalt.

RimbaWatch director Adam Farhan said EVs could only deliver meaningful climate benefits if Malaysia shifts its energy mix away from coal and fossil gas. He cited the group’s January report, “The Contribution of Malaysia’s Automotive Sector to Climate Change”, which found that EVs in Peninsular Malaysia produce more emissions than conventional petrol and diesel cars when full life cycle emissions are considered. “On average, internal combustion engine vehicles emit about 166gCO ĸ e/km while EVs here reach around 181gCO ĸ e/km. “This is largely because nearly 80% of our electricity still comes from fossil fuels.”