PRESS RELEASE
Date: 20th OCTOBER 2021 ( WEDNESDAY)
OPTIMISING TRANSPORTATION AND ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES IN 12TH MALAYSIA PLAN
Association of Water and Energy Research Malaysia (AWER) has prepared comments on 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP). These comments are based on previous reports and suggestions published by AWER as well as information in 12MP, 11th Malaysia Plan, 10th Malaysia Plan and 9th Malaysia Plan.
1. Green Mobility-True Picture
Carbon Impact Assessment is not the only measurement to determine impacts of transportation sector to the environment. Based on National Energy Balance 2018, 36% of final energy demand for Malaysia is used by transportation sector which is 23,555 kilo tonne oil equivalent (ktoe). However, utilising coal fueled electricity to charge electric vehicles may cause more harm to the environment. It is also wrong to just highlight in situ emission to justify electrifying of transport sector. The government must carry out proper Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) to determine sustainable transition technology for greener mobility.
2. Mandatory Energy Efficiency Labelling for Vehicles
AWER would like to caution the government of the proposed voluntary energy efficiency labelling for vehicles which is driven by industry. Prior to 2014, 5 star energy efficiency labelling was left as a voluntary attempt for electrical products. It was not successful and many non-energy efficient products were still sold as businesses are not keen on such move and our market was dumping ground of unsold obsolete products that are banned by legislations in other countries. Due to continuous pressure from AWER, Energy Commission implemented our suggestion to implement mandatory 5 star labelling and Minimum Energy Performance Standard (MEPS) beginning 2014. This was a more successful implementation and in the 11th Malaysia Plan more electrical equipments were added to labelling scheme as per our suggestion. Thus, the government should drive this transition plan with a mandatory labelling scheme that uses a MEPS approach. This will allow immediate savings on fuel consumption and drive greener approach for transportation sector rapidly.
3. Modal Share Increase for Public Transport Sector
Private vehicle ownership must not be used as a direct measurement for reluctance to shift to Public Transport. Seamless connection for a consumer to move from location to location and time taken to reach to their destination plays a major role. If taking public transport takes more time compared to driving, naturally consumers will make the choice that is convenient for them. While electrifying public transport is a good move, AWER would like the government to ensure the technology used is durable, efficient (energy use) and environmentally friendly.
4. Redundancy is a National Cancer
Overlapping functions and redundancy between agencies will eventually waste taxpayers’ money as well as cause many projects fail to meet intended objectives when it is related to water, energy and environment. Sewerage Services Department (JPP) has overlapping function with Pengurusan Aset Air Berhad (PAAB), Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Air Negara (SPAN) and Indah Water Konsortium. Water Supply Department (JBA) has overlapping functions with PAAB, SPAN and water operators. There should not be any attempts to reduce functions of PAAB, SPAN or water services licensees. Both JBA and JPP must be closed down and its staff force can be absorbed to SPAN, PAAB, water services licensees or other government vacancies. The current attempt to merge Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) with JBA and JPP will continue the existence of both the agencies and it will be detrimental to restructure water services industry. All water services related allocations and projects must be implemented using Water Services Industry Act 2006 (WSIA) model. Manipulation and diversion from actual WSIA model must be stopped.
Due to office politics, few individuals pushed the formation of Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) to “champion” Renewable Energy (RE) and has caused Energy Efficiency drive to slow down. AWER opposed this move and warned a potential failure and later the government admitted that Feed in Tariff (FiT) mechanism by SEDA was a failure. We urge the government to close down SEDA and its functions can be implemented via Energy Commission (ST).
The environment sector is also plagued with more competing redundancy with the proposed Amanah Lestari Alam in 12MP. We urge the government not to form Amanah Lestari Alam and close down Yayasan Hijau. Optimise and centralise the functions under Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Centre (MGTC) so that we have a “whole of a nation approach” compared to a divided one.
CONCLUSION
This is the fourth and final installation of our comments regarding issues in 12MP. Correcting and improving these implementations are vital to ensure the allocations for Budget 2022 until Budget 2025 are correctly used to optimise beneficial results to the nation, economy and the people. AWER will send all our comments to Prime Minister, members of Cabinet and Chief Secretary so that corrective actions can be made swiftly. We hope the government starts enhancing 12MP with an improved Budget 2022 announcement.
PIARAPAKARAN S.
President
Association of Water and Energy Research Malaysia (AWER)
