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WEDNESDAY | APR 8, 2026

Expedite mandate for higher biodiesel blends, govt urged o Current global situation shows it is a matter of national strategic importance, says association

during peak periods. “Not all network traffic is equal. Businesses require assured performance, especially when operations, transactions and customer engage ment depend on connectivity,” he said. The enterprise plans also include built-in network-level security and premium roaming, alongside mobile data allocations of up to 2,000GB. U Mobile is also expanding beyond mobile connectivity into a broader enterprise ecosystem, including wireless broadband, fibre, dedicated internet access and IoT solutions. How said the group has expanded its fibre footprint to cover over 350,000 premises across key economic regions, supported through partnerships, as it seeks to offer both wireless and fixed connectivity options. The company is also working towards securing additional spectrum to support future demand, while its existing 5G rollout is enhanced. Chief technology officer Woon Ooi Yuen said the network has already blocked over 390 million scam attempts through voice and SMS firewalls, with further plans to introduce security-as-a service at the infrastructure level. “With ULTRA5G, we are translating advanced network capabilities into meaningful benefits, from faster speeds to built-in protection and enterprise-grade prioritisation,” he said. U Mobile said the new plans reflect a shift from traditional telco offerings towards integrated connectivity solutions, as demand grows for always-on, secure and high-performance networks across both consumers and businesses. A wake-up call to strengthen Malaysia’s energy sovereignty KUALA LUMPUR: Rising petroleum import prices and disruptions to global logistics caused by the Middle East conflict, which threaten inflation rates and the country’s long term fiscal stability, serve as a warning for Malaysia to strengthen energy sovereignty by diversifying local energy sources. Universiti Malaysia Terengganu vice chancellor Prof Dr Mohd Zamri Ibrahim said diversifying local energy sources would also reduce the country’s dependence on volatile fossil fuel markets. “By integrating green hydrogen, offshore wind, and electric vehicle infrastructure, we are pioneering a blue economy that acts as a shield for national energy self-sufficiency,” he told Bernama. Mohd Zamri said the current crisis in the Middle East is not just a political issue but also a technical warning for Malaysia. “Green hydrogen is no longer a ‘technology of the future’ but a present national security necessity. By leveraging maritime expertise and the wind potential along our coasts, we can turn geopolitical risks into an opportunity to lead the Blue Economy in the region,” he said. According to Mohd Zamri, green hydrogen is no longer a “future technology” but a present national security necessity, acting as a high-energy-density carrier that can provide a stable supply to the national grid. “With a specific energy density of about 120 megajoules per kilogram (roughly three times higher than diesel), green hydrogen is the only viable zero-emission alternative for heavy applications such as maritime vessels and public transport,” he explained.

PETALING JAYA: The ongoing West Asia conflict – which has disrupted key shipping routes and oil production - has caused global fuel supply chains to come under severe pressure, once again highlighting the vulnerability of energy security for importing nations, including Malaysia. It has led to higher fuel prices globally, with direct implications for domestic fuel costs, inflation and overall economic stability. Over the past week; Indonesia and Thailand

use would enhance energy security, lower greenhouse gas emissions, savings in foreign exchange, reduce exposure to global oil price shocks and improved fiscal resilience, while continuing to support the domestic palm oil sector and rural livelihoods. MBA reiterated its strong support for higher biodiesel blending mandates as part of Malaysia’s immediate and long-term national objectives. “This position should be firmly reinforced in the upcoming review of the National Biofuel Policy, supported by a coherent and well articulated long-term biodiesel strategy. The impending implementation of the carbon tax mechanism in Malaysia should further encourage and justify the adoption of higher biodiesel blends in both the transport and industrial sectors in Malaysia,” said MBA. It added that a clearer policy direction will provide much-needed certainty to industry stakeholders, investors, and con sumers alike. MBA said the current crisis presents not just risks, but an opportunity for Malaysia to reinforce its commitment to sustainable, domestically anchored energy solutions. It added that it stands ready to work closely with the government and all stakeholders in advancing this critical national agenda.

implementation of higher blends under the national biodiesel programme for the transport and industrial sectors. It said that for locations where blending infrastructure that is already technically

capable, higher biodiesel blending levels between B10 and B20 should be implemented imme diately. While MBA ack nowledges that progress towards higher blends has been constrained by the readiness of blending

have announced measures to advance their national biodiesel programmes by increasing biodiesel blend ing levels. Indonesia has moved from B40 to B50, and Thailand from B5 to B7 while expanding the availability of B20 as an alternative.

infrastructure, the government should accelerate its upgrading to enable blending level of up to B30 nationwide. The current global situation underscores that this is no longer a matter of policy preference, but one of national strategic importance, MBA said in a statement yesterday. Leveraging Malaysia’s strength as a leading palm oil producer, it said, biodiesel use outside the national biodiesel blending programme should be further encouraged with the exemption of the 10% sales tax on biodiesel by the Government. The combined impact of the national biodiesel programme and voluntary biodiesel

These actions are aimed at lowering consumer fuel costs, supporting farmers and strengthening national energy security during periods of global supply disruptions. In Malaysia, the B20 biodiesel programme for the transport sector was launched in February 2020. However, its implementation to date has been limited to Pulau Langkawi, Kedah, Labuan, and Sarawak, while B7 remains the applicable blend in the industrial sector. Nearly six years on, nationwide rollout has yet to be realised. The Malaysian Biodiesel Association (MBA) is calling on the government to follow the proactive measures announced by other Asean counterparts and expedite the nationwide KUALA LUMPUR: U Mobile has launched a new suite of ULTRA5G prepaid, postpaid and enterprise plans, introducing network priority access and embedded security features as it pushes to differentiate in an increasingly saturated mobile market. The rollout comes as the telco achieves 80% coverage of populated areas nationwide as of March, three months ahead of schedule, strengthening its position as a newer 5G network provider. Chief consumer business officer Navin Manian said evolving usage patterns, including higher data consumption, mobility and rising cyber threats, are reshaping what consumers expect from connectivity. “Consumers today expect more than just speed. They want reliable connectivity even in high-density areas, seamless access when travelling, and protection against scams and cyber threats,” he said at the launch. The new prepaid and postpaid offerings centre on four pillars, more data, speed, reliability and security, with features such as unlimited-speed data, priority network access and built-in protection against phishing SMS, scam calls and malicious websites. U Mobile’s ULTRA Prepaid plans offer up to 500GB at uncapped speeds, starting from RM28, while a new starter pack priced at RM10 comes with high-speed data, calls and hotspot access. A key feature is the ULTRA5G Priority Pass, which Ű BY DEEPALAKSHMI MANICKAM sunbiz@thesundaily.com

U Mobile rolls out all-new ULTRA5G plans with priority access, built-in security

From left: Woon, Navin and How at the launch of U Mobile’s all-new ULTRA5G plans.

on affordability and usage-based design, noting that average data consumption among users remains well below headline quotas despite growing demand. Beyond consumers, U Mobile is stepping up its enterprise push with what it describes as Malaysia’s first dedicated network priority feature for businesses, branded ULTRA5G Reserve. Chief business officer How Lih Ren said the offering prioritises enterprise traffic on the network, delivering more consistent performance

allows users to activate prioritised network access during congestion, such as at concerts, transport hubs or large public events. Postpaid plans offer up to 1,000GB of data and include 15GB of roaming across more than 60 destinations, with no daily or country-based caps. Higher-tier plans bundle priority passes, shareable family lines and additional security features, including identity theft monitoring and device level protection. Navin said the company is maintaining its focus