Malaysia seeks joint regional push for just energy transition

LEADING THE CHARGE Malaysia Energy Transition and Water Transformation Deputy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir; and with (first row from front, left to right) Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Maria Angela Ponce, Indonesia Deputy Chief of Mission to Malaysia Danang Waskito; (second row from front, left to right) DBKL Valuation and Property Management Department deputy director Siti Maizun Arshad, SMG chair Tan Sri Wong Foon Meng, Sime Darby Property chief marketing and sales officer Datuk Lai Shu Wei; (third row from front, left to right) SMG chief operating officer Lydia Wang, KG Media sustainability vice president Wisnu Nugroho, SMG group chief executive officer Chan Seng Fatt, Inquirer Interactive Inc. chief operating officer for print Rudyard Arbolado, and SMG chief content officer Datin Paduka Esther Ng, together with the award winners at the Asia ESG Positive Impact Awards gala night in Sunway Resort Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. —PHOTOS BY THE STAR OF MALAYSIA

Malaysia is pushing for regional collaboration between Southeast Asian countries to ensure a “just, equitable, and inclusive inter-bloc energy transition”—a move that provides economic opportunities to all participants while addressing the impacts of climate change.

“The challenges we face today—climate change, resource scarcity, and social inequality—know no border, and therefore, neither can our solutions,” said Yang Berhormat Tuan Haji Akmal Nasrullah bin Mohd Nasir, Malaysian deputy minister of energy transition and water transformation.

Speaking during this year’s Asia ESG Positive Impact Awards, YB Tuan Haji Akmal Nasrullah said the event is a celebration of corporate excellence and “a testament to our shared resolve in advancing Asia’s sustainability agenda.”

“Through [Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation], we see how collaboration between Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines can foster a shared sustainability mindset across Southeast Asia,” said the Malaysian deputy minister.

“This partnership sends a strong and timely message. Asia is not only ready to adopt global sustainability standards, we are ready to lead with solutions rooted in our cultural strengths, economic priorities, and community values,” he added.

No community left behind

YB Tuan Haji Akmal Nasrullah said the road toward a low-carbon future would require “courage, innovation, and inclusivity.” He stressed that no community should be left behind in the transition, while all businesses, no matter how small, must have the chance to contribute.

“In Malaysia, sustainability is not viewed as a trade-off between economic growth and social well-being. We see it as a unifying foundation, strengthening our environment, our economy, and our people in ways that can be of all generations,” the deputy minister said.

He noted that Malaysia, in support of the Asean Power Grid vision, has been strengthening its cross-border interconnections and investing in renewable energy capacity in order to achieve a cleaner and more resilient economy.

Malaysia Energy Transition and Water Transformation Deputy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir

The Asean Power Grid Financing Initiative is a flagship regional effort that seeks to establish an integrated transmission network toward the accelerated development of renewable energy across Southeast Asia, according to the World Bank.

Aside from these initiatives, Malaysia has also been working to achieve a 70-percent renewable energy capacity by 2050 under its National Energy Transition Program.

“This target is not only about environmental stewardship, it is about unlocking new economic opportunities in grid industries, quality jobs and technological innovation,” YB Tuan Haji Akmal Nasrullah said.

“To translate aspiration into measurable progress, the government continues to strengthen Malaysia’s ESG (environment, social, and governance) ecosystem through clear policy frameworks, incentive, and strategic partnerships,” he added.

Energy productivity

The deputy minister noted that the Malaysian government had also sought to enhance energy productivity across its sectors through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act, while the creation of the Hydrogen Economy and Technology road map aims to position the country as a regional hub for low-carbon hydrogen.

Other government efforts to achieve sustainability included the expansion of grid financing and sustainable reporting, as well as empowering businesses to “align profit with purpose.”

“However, government action alone is not enough. We need the commitment of the private sector, civil society, and media organizations, including all of you here, to raise awareness, mobilize communities and drive lasting behavioral change,” YB Tuan Haji Akmal Nasrullah said.

He said initiatives such as the Asia ESG Positive Impact Awards, which honors companies that have led ESG programs across the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia, “highlight the important role of the media” in promoting sustainability.

“By recognizing ESG leaders, you are not only celebrating excellence, you are shaping public values around sustainability,” he said.