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MALAYSIA'S shift towards cleaner energy and sustainability is more than an environmental commitment; it drives economic growth.
Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said that energy availability, reliability and costs affect investment decisions and industrial competitiveness.
"The quality of jobs we create and the resilience of households and businesses are also affected," said Akmal.
The energy disruptions experienced this year offer a timely reminder that energy security and economic security are interconnected, he said at the Clean Energy Transition Asia (CETA) summit and exhibition at Malaysian International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC).
The disruptions Akmal referred to were the Middle East crises following the eruption of conflict between Iran, Israel and the US.
"Disruptions to international energy routes can raise fuel and freight costs; affect food prices and put pressure on business operations. For households, an energy shock can become a cost-of-living issue; for industries, it can quickly become a question of competitiveness," he said.
Based on advance estimates, he said, the economy grew by 5.3 per cent in the third quarter of 2026, bringing growth for the first nine months to 5.5 per cent, compared with 4.8 per cent in the same period last year.
Manufacturing expanded by 7.5 per cent, led by electrical and electronic products, while construction was supported by data centre projects, said the Johor Bahru Member of Parliament.
The priority now is to translate this momentum, including energy-transition investment, into higher productivity, stronger Malaysian enterprises and better-paying jobs, he underscored.
The Thirteenth Malaysia Plan (RMK13) provides the broader framework for this transformation, while Budget 2027 sets out to support investment and energy-system readiness.
CETA brought together some 60 speakers to deliberate on clean energy, renewables and, of late, the importance of sustaining data centres in the region.
With Malaysia poised to become a hub for data centres, the speakers focused on how it can be realised.
“ASEAN’s energy transition has moved from ambition to execution,” said Mel Shah, Chief Executive Officer of The C0_Lab - organiser of CETA.
“The capital is available, the technology is proven, and Malaysia is investing in the grid at a scale we have not seen before. CETA puts ministers, TNB, data centre operators, banks and buyers on one floor for two days, so that investment turns into partnerships and projects.
“For Malaysia, the stakes are national. Data centre and semiconductor investment depends on clean, reliable and competitively priced power," he added. - November 5, 2026.
