KUCHING – Sarawak is now focusing on the usage of more fuel cell electric vehicles, which use hydrogen as their source of energy, said state Deputy Energy and Environmental Sustainability Minister Hazland Hipni.
He said the focus is in line with Sarawak’s vision and Malaysia’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“As a start, the state government will import more hydrogen vehicles for use by the state cabinet,” he said in a press conference after representing Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg at the opening of the International Conference on Green Energy 2022 at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching here today.
Hazland said a company from Australia will also build a hydrogen car assembly plant here in the near future to enable the price of the vehicles to be lowered and enable more people to own such vehicles, compared to importing them.
For example, he said, Norway took only four years to encourage its citizens to switch to electric vehicles through import tax exemptions and income tax discounts, and now 75% of vehicles in the country are electric vehicles.
Hazland said the federal government should consider the same approach to encourage the use of electric vehicles among citizens, apart from looking into the possibility of encouraging the production of locally built electric cars.
Meanwhile, he said Sarawak has received foreign direct investments from around the world to develop the green energy industry, especially hydrogen in Sarawak.
“Right now, there are already two companies, from Korea and Japan, that have joint ventures with local Sarawak companies to build hydrogen plants in Bintulu,” he said. – Bernama, July 27, 2022
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