10/04/2026

FRIDAY | APR 10, 2026

3 ‘B100 biodiesel viable but supply limits block rollout’

Minister: Verify information before sharing

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysians have been urged to practise the principle of tabayyun which emphasises verifying the authenticity of information before sharing any news, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan. He reminded the public not to be influenced by unverified information that could cause panic and confusion. “The issue of the global energy crisis is not a small matter. It is complex. It requires all of us to be more mature in dealing with it,” he said in a post on his Facebook page yesterday. Zulkifli said Malaysians should be grateful as the country remains stable despite the world currently grappling with the conflict in West Asia. He said this is the result of the government’s effective management of the impact of the conflict, which has also been recognised by JP Morgan and the Milken Institute. “In a time when the world is struggling, we still have sufficient supplies – chicken, eggs, rice, cooking oil, flour and so on. In fact, there is currently an oversupply of vegetables in the market. “ Aidilfitri celebrations are still lively, open houses are full and the roads remain congested. This is our reality today. “Petrol, diesel and gas are still available, Alhamdulillah . Subsidies? The Madani government continues to bear them on a large scale, amounting to billions of ringgit, so that the people are not burdened and our welfare is protected.” Zulkifli also encouraged the public to practise a moderate lifestyle, be thrifty and use energy wisely. “A strong nation is not built by the government alone but also by its people – those who are wise, calm, united, rational and responsible.” – Bernama Budi95 subsidy KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s targeted Budi95 fuel subsidy reform amid the West Asia crisis is a step in the right direction as the government seeks to better manage fiscal pressures while ensuring subsidies are distributed more efficiently. World Bank lead economist for Malaysia Dr Apurva Sanghi said adjusting fuel quota limits represents a more targeted approach, helping to ensure that subsidies are more fairly allocated across different income groups. “Fuel subsidies in Malaysia are regressive, with the T10, T20 benefiting much more compared with others. And if you look at who consumes most of the fuel, it is the T10, T20 segment. In fact, they have been known to consume more than 200 litres. “So, now that the quota is temporarily adjusted to 200 litres, I think it is absolutely okay. That is definitely a step in the right direction,” he said at a briefing on Part 1 of the World Bank’s April 2026 Malaysia Economic Monitor, titled “Raising the Ceiling, Raising the Floor, Advancing Malaysia’s Jobs and Productivity Agenda” yesterday. – Bernama reform right move, says World Bank

Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

o Trials conducted show 100% palm oil-based fuel can perform reliably in both passenger and heavy-duty vehicles: Expert

fuels, as it would require major upgrades to Malaysia’s fuel distribution system. “B100’s chemical properties, such as its tendency to absorb moisture and act as a solvent, mean that existing pipelines, storage tanks and pumps would need to be retrofitted or replaced. “A nationwide shift would require extensive cleaning of existing systems and upgrades to ensure material compatibility and fuel stability.” He said B100 should be viewed as a medium-term transition fuel rather than a permanent solution. “B100 acts as a vital bridge between today’s heavy reliance on fossil fuels and a future powered by electrification and hydrogen. “Battery technology is still too heavy, and hydrogen remains costly for large-scale deployment in logistics, maritime and agriculture. B100 allows these sectors to cut emissions immediately using existing engines. “Relying entirely on palm oil for fuel would face hard limits due to land availability and could compete with food supply while also raising deforestation concerns.”

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s B100 biodiesel has proven its reliability in vehicle trials but supply shortages and infrastructure gaps make a nationwide rollout unrealistic for now, said Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment senior lecturer Dr Muhammad Ammirrul Atiqi Mohd Zainuri. He said trials conducted in Malaysia show that the 100% palm oil-based biodiesel can perform reliably in both passenger and heavy-duty vehicles. Muhammad Ammirrul cited a 15-month passenger car trial covering more than 50,000km, along with a separate four-month tanker truck test, both of which were completed without major technical issues. The trials were carried out by the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) and FGV Holdings Berhad (FGV). “From a technical standpoint, B100 is viable as a fuel for vehicles,” he said, adding that modern diesel engines are capable of handling PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has thrown its support behind the government’s initiatives to safeguard the nation’s medicine and medical device supply chain amid the ongoing global energy crisis triggered by the West Asia conflict. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the MMA said measures announced by the Economy minister, through the National Economic Action Council, were both important and timely, reflecting an appropriate response to the mounting uncertainties rippling through global supply chains. Among the initiatives MMA endorsed were the introduction of a special access pathway to maintain availability of critical medicines and medical devices, centralised stock monitoring and diversification of import sources, the activation of emergency response plans, moves to establish a national strategic buffer stock and the development of a dedicated medicine security policy under the MyMedSecure framework alongside efforts to grow the domestic pharmaceutical industry. The Health Ministry has advised that Malaysia’s medicine supply remains stable, with no significant disruptions recorded to date. Local manufacturers are also reported to hold sufficient stocks of both raw materials and finished products to sustain operations for several months. MMA president Datuk Dr Thirunavukarasu Rajoo cautioned against complacency given the fluid Ű THE SUN TEAM newsdesk@thesundaily.com

to scale up production, likely through a mix of government support and private sector investment. Muhammad Ammirrul said while B100 performs well mechanically, it comes with trade offs. “Due to its lower energy density, vehicles running on B100 may experience a slight drop in fuel efficiency, requiring more fuel to travel the same distance. “However, this is offset by cleaner combustion and significantly lower emissions, with trials showing carbon emission reductions of up to 70% in heavy duty transport. “B100 burns more completely and produces fewer pollutants, making it a cleaner alternative to conventional diesel.” He cautioned that transitioning to B100 is not as simple as switching

it effectively. He said technical viability, however, does not translate into immediate large-scale adoption. “The biggest limitation is feedstock supply. Malaysia currently does not have sufficient crude palm oil reserves to support a nationwide rollout of B100.” Muhammad Ammirrul said engine compatibility is not a major barrier as trials have already demonstrated reliable performance across different vehicle types. He said the main obstacles lie in production capacity and infrastructure readiness. “Current processing facilities are insufficient to meet large-scale demand. Significant expansion of biodiesel plants is required before any nationwide implementation can take place.” He added that industry players such as Felda and FGV would need

Support for initiatives to safeguard medicine supply chain

The Health Ministry said Malaysia’s medicine supply remains stable, with no significant disruptions recorded to date. – BERNAMAPIC

pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity in a structured and sustained manner. It said building local production capability is a long-term imperative for achieving genuine national health sovereignty. The MMA said it would continue engaging with the Health Ministry, the National Economic Action Council and all relevant stakeholders to ensure that Malaysians have uninterrupted access to essential medicines and treatment.

Secondly, it called for greater transparency in the sharing of supply status information with the private healthcare sector. It said clinics and private hospitals must be kept informed on a proactive basis to ensure continuity of patient care across all healthcare settings, not just public facilities. Thirdly, and most expansively, the MMA urged Malaysia to treat the current crisis as a catalyst for accelerating domestic

nature of the global situation. He outlined three additional measures MMA is calling on the government to pursue. Its first recommendation is that strategic buffer stocks be built around medicines listed in the National Essential Medicines List, with particular emphasis on treatments for chronic conditions, including diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases – illnesses that affect a large and growing segment of Malaysians