January-February. 2026 | @ green

DRIVING CHANGE: Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani emphasises the importance of quality assurance in importing electric vehicles to safeguard Malaysia ' s automotive ecosystem.

A new centralised biogas plant in Penang has started converting pig farm waste into renewable energy, offering a longterm solution to one of the region ' s most persistent environmental issues.

The Kampung Valdor Centralised Biogas Facility, located in South Seberang Perai, has been operational since March 2024 and serves 20 farms, housing around 30,000 pigs.

The plant was officially launched earlier this month by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who described it as a replicable model for sustainable livestock waste management. In 2025, the facility processed 120 metric tonnes of pig waste daily and generated up to 0.6 megawatts of electricity during intermittent operation.

At its full design capacity, it was expected to generate 1.2 megawatts, with one megawatt allocated for export to the national grid. Over an entire year, the plant was designed to handle up to 226,000 metric tonnes of waste and produce approximately 10.5 gigawatthours of renewable energy.

The project, which involved a private investment of approximately 25.9 million Malaysian ringgit by Timeless Green Sdn Bhd, generated skilled local

Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani stated that the entry of imported EVs must contribute positively to the automotive industry, emphasising that local industry players are well-equipped to meet the demand for affordable EVs.

Therefore, we aimed to ensure that

POWERING CHANGE: The Kampung Valdor Centralised Biogas Facility is a pioneering initiative, transforming pig waste into renewable energy in Penang.

employment and considerably reduced odours in the surrounding area. The facility had the capacity to expand and accommodate waste from up to 90,000 pigs in future stages.

Penang is home to 113 pig farms, housing nearly 90,000 pigs across the state, making effective waste management a priority for both environmental and public health reasons. The Valdor area itself has contained 44 farms with over 42,000 pigs.

Authorities also announced plans to build a second facility in Kampung Selamat, another district known for its the EVs imported into the country were of high quality. It was not merely a matter of price, but rather about protecting our ecosystem,” he remarked following the launch of the Proton e. MAS 7 PHEV.

Johari emphasised the importance of prioritising quality to prevent an oversupply of vehicles that could undermine the growing local EV sector.

Regarding the future direction of the automotive sector, he expressed the government’ s desire for more manufacturers to engage in local assembly, specifically through completely knockeddown units, and to boost the production of automotive components locally.

“ We currently produce about 800,000 vehicles. Building a robust ecosystem will be challenging if we do not exceed a million units or more,” he cautioned.

Johari affirmed the government ' s openness to opinions and proposals from industry stakeholders in response to industry concerns over the development of hybrid vehicles.

“ We were ready to listen. We were prepared to consider and evaluate anyone bringing in this technology, including hybrids, so that we could collectively build this ecosystem,” he stated.

high number of pig farms. That plant was expected to take one to two years to complete, aiming for operational status in 2029, subject to the necessary regulatory approvals.

Letters of intent were received from farmers in North Seberang Perai, expressing their willingness to adopt biogas solutions. The State government confirmed its commitment to continue collaborating with the Department of Veterinary Services to promote farm upgrades, including the adoption of closed-farm systems with enhanced biosecurity and environmental controls.

GREEN WINNERS: Young innovators celebrate their achievements in international sustainability competitions.

FOUR primary school pupils from Malaysia demonstrated the country ' s talent by securing top honours in three international innovation competitions.

The young innovators were crowned champions, receiving gold awards at both the World Sustainable Development Goal Challenge( WSDGC) 2025 and the World Innovation in STEM Competition( WINSTEM) 2025, as announced by the organisers in a statement. They later earned another gold medal at the Malaysia Young Scientists Organisation( MYSO) competition held in Bangkok earlier this month.

Competing against 92 teams and nearly 1,000 participants at the MYSO event, the quartet shone brightly among international contenders. The award ceremony took place at the Meroz Hotel

in Bangkok on Feb 1.

The team members, Aarthisha Thiban, Aatheesha Moorthy, Keshwinie Arvin Kumar, and Puraani Vivegan, all aged 11, are pupils at SJK( T) Kinrara in Puchong.

At the WSDGC, hosted at Multimedia University in Cyberjaya, participants were tasked with developing solutions that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals( SDGs). The WINSTEM competition, organised in collaboration with the National Science Centre and Sirim Berhad, provided a platform for students to showcase their talents in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics( STEM).

For both the WSDGC and WINSTEM, the team presented a project titled " Home-Made Hibiscus Tea- Cool & Healthy Drink for Hot Weather." This sustainability-focused initiative promoted a natural and affordable beverage made from locally sourced hibiscus flowers. The project highlighted the benefits of hydration and antioxidants while encouraging responsible use of natural resources in Malaysia’ s tropical climate.

At the MYSO competition, the pupils explored biodegradable materials for growing indoor herbal plants, reinforcing their dedication to green innovation. – @ green