08/04/2026

WEDNESDAY | APR 8, 2026

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Palm-oil based biodiesel could provide alternative energy source KUALA LUMPUR: B100, a 100% palm oil-based biodiesel, has the potential to emerge as a more competitive and sustainable alternative energy source amid uncertainties arising from the West Asia crisis, said Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek. He said the B100 implementation, which is still at the policy stage, will kick off within the Felda ecosystem first. Ahmad Shabery said he has brought up the matter with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof. “At this stage, a government policy needs to be in place, as we may not have sufficient crude palm oil (CPO) supply to roll out B100 immediately,” he told a press conference here yesterday. B100’s factory price is estimated at about RM4.50 per litre, depending on CPO prices, said Ahmad Shabery. At an estimated price below RM5 per litre, B100 could not only reduce the reliance on diesel, but also support domestic fuel price stabilisation and strengthen national energy security, he said. Ahmad Shabery added that Felda and FGV Holdings Bhd need to expand the B100 biodiesel processing plant development in order to increase production capacity. “We are having discussions to determine the form of partnership, whether to involve full private sector participation, government support or other parties, to meet the requirement of raising B100 capacity.” Since 2025, the B100 biodiesel usage pilot project has been implemented using passenger vehicles for 15 months involving a distance of more than 50,000km. Ahmad Shabery said a four-month trial test using tanker trucks has also been done in 2024. – Bernama Stranded M’sian vessels cleared to pass Hormuz KUALA LUMPUR: The remaining six Malaysian vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz will be cleared to pass through in stages, said Iran’s Ambassador to Malaysia Valiollah Mohammadi Nasrabadi. “We (Iran) will let the ships pass through one by one,” he said on the sidelines of the Kuala Lumpur-Ankara Dialogue yesterday. The Malaysian Foreign Ministry said one of the seven Malaysian-owned vessels previously held in the Strait due to regional tensions has been allowed to proceed to its destination. High-level talks between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on March 26 secured clearance for all seven vessels to resume their journey. The Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint through which about 20% of the world’s crude oil and gas transits, has faced major disruptions following continuous US and Israeli attacks on Iranian territory since Feb 28. These disruptions have caused fuel shortages and rising oil prices. Iran has said it would allow passage for vessels from “non-hostile” nations, ensuring their safe transit. – Bernama

‘Remote work may reshape, not reduce, traffic flow’

o WFH could reduce congestion by relieving pressure during peak hours: Educator

“stopgap measure” rather than a long-term solution. He added that flexible work arrangements could reshape, rather than reduce, traffic patterns. “Instead of two peak-hour commutes, individuals may make multiple off-peak trips throughout the day. “This may ease congestion during rush hours, but overall traffic volume and vehicle travel could remain high.” In suburban areas where daily amenities are not within walking distance, such patterns could result in more dispersed yet persistent traffic throughout the day. Law called for a multi-pronged approach that goes beyond temporary fixes. This includes better integration of public transport systems, expansion of transit-oriented development to bring jobs and housing closer to rail networks, and stronger demand management measures, such as congestion pricing and improved parking controls. He stressed the need to enhance walkability, cycling infrastructure and mixed-use development to cut reliance on cars for short trips.

when they do travel.” He pointed to Malaysia’s deeply entrenched car-centric culture as a key constraint. “In the Klang Valley, private vehicles are often preferred due to their reliability, convenience and comfort, especially given weather conditions and limitations in public transport. “Even with fewer office commutes, people may still rely on cars for midday errands, school runs or leisure activities, offsetting some of the gains from WFH.” Beyond behavioural factors, Law stressed that WFH does little to address structural weaknesses in the region’s transport system. He said the Klang Valley’s urban form remains highly dispersed, with housing, jobs and amenities spread across low-density suburbs, making cars a necessity for many. Gaps in public transport integration also persist, particularly in first and last-mile connectivity, while poor bus reliability and limited priority measures reduce the appeal of alternatives to driving. “Road pricing and parking policies are insufficient to discourage car use,” he said, describing WFH as a

Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

workers travelling during these periods could improve traffic flow, especially if demand drops below a critical threshold. “But it does not address all-day congestion as non-work-related trips remain significant.” Law added that projected fuel savings, including an estimated RM169 million monthly reduction if half the region’s workforce worked remotely, are plausible in the short term. However, long-term sustainability depends on whether travel behaviour fundamentally changes, rather than simply shifts, he said. “Some commuting trips may be replaced with other journeys, such as errands, social activities or flexible meetings. “There is also the possibility of residential decentralisation, in which people choose to live further from the city centre if they do not need to commute daily, which could increase travel distances

PETALING JAYA: Work-from-home (WFH) may ease rush-hour gridlock and trim fuel usage, but it is no cure for the Klang Valley’s deep-rooted dependence on cars, experts say. While recent estimates by RimbaWatch suggest that wider adoption of WFH could yield substantial fuel subsidy savings, Universiti Putra Malaysia Road Safety Research Centre head Assoc Prof Dr Law Teik Hua said such gains are likely to be short-lived without structural reforms. He said WFH could reduce congestion, but largely by relieving pressure during peak commuting hours rather than cutting overall traffic volumes. “In the Klang Valley, congestion is largely driven by a concentration of commuting activities within a narrow time window. “Reducing the number of office geopolitical uncertainties, which have impacted the world’s halal supply chains, should not be seen as a threat but as an opening for Malaysia to strengthen its position as a stable and resilient halal hub. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the conflict in West Asia, particularly involving strategic routes such as the Strait of Hormuz, has had a major impact on global supply chains and sparked a domino effect on the halal industry, from rising logistics costs and shipment delays to uncertainty over market access. He said halal products, particularly fresh food and temperature-controlled goods, are highly dependent on an efficient and stable global supply chain, while rising energy and raw material costs put pressure on production costs. “Despite these challenges, there is a reality that we need to look at more strategically because this global uncertainty paves the way for Malaysia to strengthen its position as a stable, trusted and resilient halal hub. “Our ability to diversify export markets, strengthen domestic supply chains and improve logistics efficiency will be the determining factors in ensuring the country’s halal industry continues to grow,” he said at the groundbreaking ceremony for phase two of the Perda Halal Park Industrial Development Project at the Perda Food Park here yesterday. Also present were Rural and Regional Development Deputy Minister Datuk Rubiah Wang, Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Dr

Nation has chance to boost halal hub status: DPM TASEK GELUGOR: Global

Ahmad Zahid visiting the exhibition pavilion in conjunction with the groundbreaking ceremony of the Perda Halal Park Industrial Development Project yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC

reached RM61.79 billion, with domestic products penetrating key markets such as China, Singapore, Japan, the United States and Indonesia, Bernama reported. He said based on the Halal Industry Master Plan 2030, the country has set clear targets, namely to increase the halal industry’s contribution to GDP to 11%, achieve an export value of RM70 billion and create about 700,000 highly skilled job opportunities.

country to expand its market share. “This is because halal products are not just for Muslims, but also for all religions and countries, with Malaysia becoming the trusted nation in the world in the production of halal products,” he said, urging halal product producers in Malaysia to capitalise on this great potential. The chairman of the National Halal Council also said in 2024, Malaysia’s halal export value

Mohamad Abdul Hamid, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation chairman Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican and Penang Regional Development Authority chairman Datuk Dr Shaik Hussein Mydin. Ahmad Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development minister, said demand for global halal products, projected to reach around US$5 trillion (RM20 trillion) by 2030, presents a huge opportunity for the