BY NATASHA JEE & ALEXANDRA LORNA
KUCHING: A proposal to establish a dedicated institution for renewable energy (RE) in Sarawak has been put forward by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
The Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) senior vice president expressed hope that the proposal would be considered by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
“The visionary leadership of our Premier has led to Sarawak’s success in RE, achieving a 62 per cent renewable energy capacity mix by 2024, surpassing the 60 per cent target set in the Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.
“Thus, I would like to propose that our Premier consider establishing a dedicated institution for RE in Sarawak. This would allow RE to become a part of our social culture,” he said.
He said this during the PBB Southern Zone Branch Delegates Meeting at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here today (Jan 19).
Fadillah, who is also the Federal Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA), added RE has been identified as an enabler for socio-economic growth, positioning Sarawak to become a high-income state by 2030.
“It is also seen that recent advancements in hydrogen research in Sarawak have attracted interest from international investors, particularly from Japan and South Korea, positioning Sarawak as a potential major hydrogen economy hub in Asia,” he said.
Fadillah also acknowledged that Sarawak’s renewable energy initiatives under the Premier’s leadership have significantly boosted the state’s economy and development.
“We are unsure where our Premier gained knowledge about renewable energy.
“And as the Minister of PETRA, I often seek advice and guidance from our Premier on energy matters,” said Fadillah.
