04 LOCAL NEWS

@ green | April-May, 2025

In a striking demonstration of environmental concern, Al-Sultan Abdullah has voiced his alarm regarding the significant deterioration of the Pekan-Nenasi road. This issue is particularly pronounced along the Padang Api-Api section, where coastal erosion is advancing at a troubling rate.

During a recent helicopter survey on his way to Rompin, the Sultan noted with dismay that nearly 300 acres( 121 hectares) of land have succumbed to the relentless forces of the sea.

" The main road is now dangerously close to the coastline – it ' s only a matter of time. If urgent action is not taken, there is a significant risk that the sea could swallow the road," cautioned Al-Sultan Abdullah.

He delivered his remarks while officiating the newly completed Kampung Marhum Mosque in Pekan, now named the Saidina Uthman Ibnu Affan Mosque.

MALAYSIA’ S booming renewable energy sector is facing significant headwinds as the United States imposes steep tariffs, rolls back climate financing and distances itself from global environmental commitments under President Donald Trump.

The move has sparked fears across Southeast Asia, with analysts warning it could stall the region’ s clean energy transition. Malaysia, once the world’ s third-largest producer of solar photovoltaic( PV) components and a key polysilicon supplier, now faces a 24 per cent tariff on most of its solar exports to the US.

Together with Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia, these countries accounted for over 80 per cent of US solar PV imports in the first half of 2024. However, with Washington’ s recent announcement, the cost of Southeast Asian solar products in the US is set to rise sharply, threatening growth in one of the region’ s most promising industries.

Observers have described the combination of tariffs, reduced climate funding and the

US withdrawal from international commitments as a triple blow that intensifies existing volatility for developing countries, especially in Southeast Asia.

The new tariff builds on earlier duties, including a 9.13 per cent anti-subsidy countervailing tariff imposed in October 2024 and a blanket 30 per cent levy introduced in 2018. These escalating trade barriers could severely undercut Malaysia’ s goal of achieving 70 per cent renewable energy capacity by 2050. With export demand shrinking, domestic reinvestment into solar and wind projects may stall.

Malaysian authorities have maintained that the country will continue to advance its clean energy agenda, position-

The Sultan ' s warning follows reports from earlier this year highlighting similar concerns in Sungai Lumpur, Kampung Jawa, and Rompin, where over 50 residents have been affected by high tides and eroding land. The existing breakwaters, locals say, are no longer effective during the north-east monsoon and urgently need upgrading.

For a State whose identity, economy and communities are tied to its coastlines, the growing threat of erosion demands more than short-term fixes. It is a wake-up call for a bold, coordinated response— one that blends climate resilience, sustainable engineering and local insight.

As sea levels rise and weather patterns grow more erratic, the clock is ticking. Without action, more communities may soon find themselves at the mercy of the tides.

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ing the sector as a strategic pillar of industrial growth over the next decade.

Yet, the outlook remains uncertain. While global clean energy surged in 2024— accounting for more than 40 per cent of electricity generation— Southeast Asia has struggled to keep up, with renewables making up only 26 per cent of the region’ s energy mix. Malaysia currently sits at just 19 per cent.

Despite an estimated 31,000 gigawatts of solar and wind potential, only 33 gigawatts have been developed across ASEAN. Analysts believe that stronger policy support is crucial for the region to unlock its full renewable energy market potential, sustainably meet growing demand and achieve long-term climate targets.

THE Malaysian government is strengthening ties with Tenaga Nasional Berhad( TNB) and the Energy Commission( ST) to enhance grid connectivity, enabling renewable energy from palm oil mills to be fed into the national grid.

This move is part of a broader push to optimise the sector’ s untapped biomass potential and support Malaysia’ s shift towards clean energy.

Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani stated that palm oil waste products- such as mesocarp fibre, empty fruit bunches, and palm kernel shells- can be converted into biomass energy.

This would not only aid the country’ s renewable energy goals but also attract foreign direct investment focused on low-carbon development.

Malaysia’ s 450 palm oil mills, each capable of processing 60 tonnes per hour, can generate between five and seven megawatts( MW) of electricity. If fully harnessed, the industry could contribute more than 2,000MW to the national power supply. However, limited grid infrastructure remains a key obstacle.

To address this, the government will work with TNB and ST to identify mills that are ready for grid integration and support necessary investments. This step aims to reduce fossil fuel dependency, increase energy security, and avoid energy waste.

Johari also pointed to increased private sector interest in waste-to-energy projects, noting that some companies are willing to fund infrastructure development in the sector

Ȯn the plantation front, Johari raised concern about the slow pace of replanting, which currently falls short of the annual target of 255,000 hectares. Ageing palm trees risk reducing yields and compromising longterm industry viability.

To improve productivity, the government is encouraging the use of high-quality Tenera Hybrid planting materials. Smallholders, who collectively manage 1.5 million hectares, could increase crude palm oil output by 1.5 million metric tonnes if yields improved by just 5 metric tonnes per hectare. hectare.- @ green