Malaysia Must Build Cleaner, Smarter, Interconnected And Future-Ready Energy Ecosystem -- Mohd Shahar
By Engku Shariful Azni Engku Ab Latif
KUALA LUMPUR, June 3 (Bernama) -- Malaysia must focus on building an energy ecosystem that is cleaner, smarter, more interconnected and future-ready under the 13th Malaysia Plan (MP13), said Deputy Economy Minister Datuk Mohd Shahar Abdullah.
He said this entails strengthening grid modernisation, enabling large-scale renewable energy integration as well as developing battery energy storage capabilities.
“It also involves accelerating digitalisation and adoption of artificial intelligence, expanding ASEAN regional power connectivity and nurturing highly skilled talent for the new energy economy,” he said in his special address at the Energy Transition Conference 2026 (ETCon26) here today.
Mohd Shahar said that as Malaysia embarks on its MP13 journey from 2026 to 2030, the nation must continue to balance three critical priorities simultaneously including ensuring long-term energy security and system resilience.
Other priorities include accelerating decarbonisation to meet climate commitments and sustainability aspirations, maintaining economic competitiveness and affordability for both the rakyat and industries.
However, he said achieving the balance is not easy as governments continue to face challenges arising from transition costs, market uncertainties and growing investment pressures across the globe.
“Climate risks, supply chain disruptions, fuel price volatility and geopolitical uncertainties increasingly threaten economic stability and long-term growth prospects.
“Therefore, sustainability should not be viewed as a constraint on growth, but as a foundation for resilience, competitiveness and future prosperity,” he said.
Held from June 3 to 5, 2026, at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, ETCon26 is a flagship conference envisioned by Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB), bringing together global stakeholders to accelerate the implementation of the national energy transition agenda.
Themed “Energy & AI: The Synergy for Energy Transition”, the conference is anchored on three content pillars, namely Energy for AI, AI for Energy, and Energy Transition (ET) for People, reflecting the growing interdependence between energy systems and digital technologies.
-- BERNAMA
