As Malaysia moves to retire coal power by 2044, the country has an opportunity to turn retiring coal sites into clean energy hubs and accelerate the deployment of solar, storage and other renewable technologies.
Former environment minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad warned prolonged delays to Malaysia's climate change bill and carbon pricing risk undermining investor confidence, while other panellists called for climate change to be treated as a national security issue and greater investment in adaptation.
New SIIA report notes that regional cooperation on energy, AI, finance and supply chains will be critical to strengthening the bloc's economic security and preserving its relevance in a more fragmented global economy.