The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) and the Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii) have joined forces to organise the first national level Electric Vehicle (EV) Conference 2023 at MIDA headquarters. With the theme “Gearing Up for EV Revolution: The Malaysia Story,” it is clear that the event highlighted Malaysia’s plans and progress towards a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly future. The collaboration between MIDA and MARii also highlights the government’s commitment to driving the EV industry forward and supporting the development of related technologies.
The strong turnout of over 300 attendees, both physically and virtually, suggests that there was a high level of interest in the EV industry and its potential impact on the country’s economy and environment.
Officially inaugurated by Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Bin Tengku Abdul Aziz, Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI), the conference was also attended by Nik Nazmi Bin Nik Ahmad, the Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change (NRECC); Liew Chin Tong, Deputy Minister of MITI; Datuk Wira Arham Abdul Rahman, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MIDA; Datuk Phang Ah Tong, Chairman of MARii; and Dato’ Ahmad Suhaimi Bin Endut, Undersecretary, Public Asset Management Division, Ministry of Finance Malaysia (MOF).
Officiating the conference, the Minister of MITI, Datuk Seri Zafrul, said, “EVs are the intuitive solution for low carbon mobility and zero-emission vehicles, and the nascent global EV industry provides significant room for growth, particularly in ASEAN which has the potential to be both a manufacturing hub and market for EVs. Malaysia, as one of the leading electrical and electronics (E&E) manufacturing hubs in ASEAN, is already taking steps to strengthen her position by crafting supportive policy measures, leveraging on its existing EV ecosystem and ensuring a solid talent pipeline. All these bode well for investors looking to develop a viable and sustainable EV industry in Malaysia, while helping Malaysia achieve her net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.”
Nik Nazmi, the Minister of NRECC in response to the announcement said, “NRECC has taken into account the importance of balancing energy demand and reducing carbon emissions, and this includes the development of EVs and its ecosystems in Malaysia. The country aims to install 10,000 EV charging points by 2025 through the Low Carbon Mobility Blueprint, with up to 900 charging points at present. NRECC is also committed to increasing electricity generation from Renewable Energy sources (Renewable Energy) through the Electricity Supply Generation Development Plan 2021-2039 while strengthening the grid and developing the Electric Vehicle (EV) ecosystem.”
Datuk Wira Arham Abdul Rahman, CEO of MIDA, expressed, “We are optimistic that electric vehicles will increase in popularity and become more widespread, particularly with the growing demand for environmentally friendly transportation in the ASEAN region. Through proactive initiatives, MIDA is poised to position Malaysia as a prominent global value chain player and the preferred technology partner for electric vehicles, in line with the National Investment Aspirations (NIA) and the New Investment Policy (NIP), towards achieving low carbon mobility.”
“In this regard, I urge the industry players to take the initiative and increase the involvement of local companies in high-value-added activities in both the domestic and global supply chains. By working together, we have the potential to create positive economic spill overs, such as transferring technology, providing high impact jobs, offering investment opportunity, and increasing exports, all in line with our NIP,” he added.
Datuk Phang Ah Tong, Chairman of MARii, commented, “Today’s event is especially significant, on steering the growth of the EV industry in Malaysia and staying relevant to the global shift towards electrification, as the world is moving towards carbon emission reduction and producing cleaner air for the benefit of our beloved Malaysia, the planet and the future generation.”
Malaysia has pledged to become a nation with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, as outlined in the 12MP. The government is also committed to driving the efforts of attracting investments in EVs and achieving the national target of 15 per cent of the total industry volume for EVs and hybrids by the year 2030. Currently, Malaysia has recorded more than 15,000 units of xEVs (plug-in hybrid, hybrid and full battery electric vehicles) on the road in 2022.
The conference covered a range of important topics related to the development of electric vehicles (EVs) in Malaysia. The first panel discussion was on Market Competitiveness in the EV industry and included prominent players such as, Volvo, Samsung, Proton and Eclimo.
The second panel discussion delved into the Emerging Infrastructural Challenges facing the widespread adoption of EVs. With a diverse group of participants from the public and private sectors, including government agencies and energy companies namely Suruhanjaya Tenaga Malaysia (ST), Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC), Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) and Gentari, a clean energy solutions company wholly-owned by Petronas, the Conference provided a comprehensive overview of the current state of the EV industry in Malaysia and addressed the key challenges and opportunities facing its growth.
The business clinic session attended by over 30 companies, was a valuable addition as it allowed participants to network and engage with experts in the field, namely MIDA, MARii, Energy Commission and Tenaga Nasional Berhad, which will potentially lead to new partnerships and collaborations.
Overall, the conference was a positive step towards promoting the adoption of EVs in Malaysia and creating a sustainable future for the country.
