Sarawak boosts solar workforce to meet 2030 renewable energy goals
The move aligns with Sarawak's goal to increase power generation capacity to 10,000 megawatts (MW) by 2030 and 15,000 MW by 2035, with renewables contributing at least 60%.
Julaihi highlighted the state's progress, including the 50 MW floating solar plant at Batang Ai Dam, operational since December last year.
'This facility uses only three per cent of the dam's surface and can expand to Murum and Bakun,' he said after presenting an accreditation certificate to Universiti Teknologi Sarawak (UTS).
The minister stressed the rising demand for solar PV technicians and engineers, praising UTS's collaboration with Entera Technology Academy as a strategic step.
'Skilled workers are vital for building Sarawak's renewable energy ecosystem,' he added.
The initiative supports Sarawak's Post-COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, which prioritises renewables to drive economic growth.
'Sarawak's green energy potential positions it as ASEAN's future energy hub,' Julaihi said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
Diversification ensures Malaysia's economy remains resilient: Miti official
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia remains on solid footing due to its inclusive and long-term economic strategy despite geopolitical tensions in the Middle East raising concerns over the potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz and disruptions to global energy supply. The Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry's bilateral economic and trade relations division director, Raveendran Nair, said Malaysia's consistent approach of diversifying into new markets has allowed the country to stay competitive and resilient against external pressures. 'To be fair, we faced numerous major challenges – from the Asian financial crisis to the US financial crisis, and then the Covid-19 pandemic. 'During Covid-19, we faced an unprecedented and extraordinary situation. Yet, we managed to recover and move towards a progressive recovery trend in this post-pandemic era,' he said at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's forum Bicara Persada – Iran-Israel War: Implications for Malaysia and the New World Order held here. Raveendran said challenges such as the retaliatory tariffs imposed by the United States do not pose a significant threat to Malaysia's economy because the impact is also felt by other countries. 'There are concerns that these tariffs could shrink our economy. But from a broader perspective, Malaysia is not the only one affected. In Southeast Asia, for example, Singapore faces a 10% tariff, the Philippines is second, and Malaysia faces a 24% rate. Compared to other neighbouring countries in the region, some face tariffs as high as 30 to 40%. So in terms of competitiveness, Malaysia still has an edge,' he said. Raveendran noted that Malaysia's trade with the US accounts for only about 13% (of its total trade), with the rest involving a variety of global markets. 'Our strategy is not to depend on a single country. That's why we continue to diversify our markets. As seen recently, Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) has frequently travelled abroad with Miti to conduct business programmes, meet local industry leaders, and identify potential investors to bring into Malaysia. 'This strategy ensures we are not reliant on just one country. If one country's economy declines, we still have other alternatives,' he said. As part of the effort to strengthen trade connectivity, Malaysia is actively signing free trade agreements (FTA) to open up opportunities for national exports. 'For instance, we recently signed the Malaysia-European Free Trade Association agreement, which involves Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. We have also resumed FTA negotiations with the European Union and Gulf countries. Overall, we have 18 FTAs with various nations,' he said. On tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, Raveendran said the situation could potentially impact the global energy supply chain but Malaysia remains focused on strengthening its economic resilience through diverse trade networks and strong internal preparedness. He also said no country can survive on its own without a stable supply network in an interconnected global economic landscape. – Bernama
The Star
7 hours ago
- The Star
Australia's Qantas says 6 million customer accounts accessed in cyber hack
A member of the ground staff drives past a group of Qantas planes parked at the Qantas Domestic Terminal located at Sydney Airport, Australia, July 26, 2016. REUTERS/David Gray (Reuters) -A cyber hacker broke into a database containing the personal information of millions of customers, Qantas said, in Australia's biggest breach in years and a setback for an airline rebuilding trust after a reputational crisis. The hacker targeted a call centre and gained access to a third-party customer service platform containing six million names, email addresses, phone numbers, birth dates and frequent flyer numbers, Qantas said in a statement on Wednesday. The airline did not specify the location of the call centre or customers whose information was compromised. It said it learnt of the breach after detecting unusual activity on the platform and acted immediately to contain it. "We are continuing to investigate the proportion of the data that has been stolen, though we expect it will be significant," Qantas said, reporting no impact on operations or safety. Last week, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation said cybercrime group Scattered Spider was targeting airlines and that Hawaiian Airlines and Canada's WestJet had already reported breaches. Qantas did not name any group. "What makes this trend particularly alarming is its scale and coordination, with fresh reports that Qantas is the latest victim" of a hack, said Mark Thomas, Australia director of security services for cyber security firm Arctic Wolf. Scattered Spider hackers are known to impersonate a company's tech staff to gain employee passwords and "it is plausible they are executing a similar playbook", Thomas said. Charles Carmakal, chief technology officer of Alphabet-owned cybersecurity firm Mandiant, said it was too soon to say if Scattered Spider was responsible but "global airline organisations should be on high alert of social engineering attacks". Qantas' share price was down 2.4% in afternoon trading against an overall market that was up 0.8%. UNWELCOME ATTENTION The breach is Australia's most high-profile since those of telecommunications network operator Optus and health insurance leader Medibank in 2022 prompted cyber resilience laws including mandatory reporting of compliance and incidents. It brings unwelcome attention to Qantas which is trying to win public trust after actions during and after the COVID-19 pandemic saw it plunge on airline and brand league tables. Qantas was found to have illegally sacked thousands of ground workers during the 2020 border closure while collecting government stimulus payments. It also admitted selling thousands of tickets for already-cancelled flights. The airline drew the ire of opposition politicians who said it lobbied the federal government in 2022 to refuse a request from Qatar Airways to sell more flights. Qantas denied pressuring the government which eventually refused the request - a move the consumer regulator said hurt price competition. Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson has improved the airline's public standing since taking office in 2023, reputation measures showed. "We recognise the uncertainty this will cause," Hudson said of the data breach. "Our customers trust us with their personal information and we take that responsibility seriously." Qantas said it notified the Australian Cyber Security Centre, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner and the Australian Federal Police. ACSC declined to comment and AFP said only that it was aware of the incident. The OAIC was not immediately available for comment. The airline said the hacker did not access frequent flyer accounts or customer passwords, PIN numbers or log in details. (Reporting by Shivangi Lahiri in Bengaluru and Byron Kaye in Sydney; Editing by Rashmi Aich and Christopher Cushing)
Rakyat Post
9 hours ago
- Rakyat Post
PepsiCo Taps Into Gen Z And E-Commerce to Drive Growth In Malaysia, Eyes Digital Market Domination
Subscribe to our FREE As every click and scroll gains importance in the current age, global food and beverage giant PepsiCo is proactively mapping out a new strategy to engage with Generation Z, the most influential consumers of today. PepsiCo has acknowledged that individuals in their early teens to mid-twenties are crucial influencers of digital trends and enthusiastic online shoppers. As a result, the company is redirecting its marketing efforts toward e-commerce channels, with social media platforms like TikTok playing a vital role. In a recent media roundtable discussion, PepsiCo has exclusively shared its strategy to illuminate this focus, represented by General Manager for PepsiCo Malaysia and the Philippines, Aditya Ahuja. PepsiCo's innovative growth driver: E-Commerce The onset of the COVID-19 crisis resulted in a transformation of consumer spending habits worldwide, including those in Malaysia. The crisis hastened the acceptance of e-commerce as a shopping alternative among Malaysian consumers. PepsiCo took proactive measures to leverage this change through its portfolio of iconic brands such as Pepsi, Lay's, Quaker, and Tropicana. In Malaysia, their e-commerce strategy extends beyond merely listing products on online shopping platforms; it also encompasses a more profound integration into the digital ecosystem. As an example, in April of last year, Lay's introduced a UEFA Jumbo Pack that showcased football legend Lionel Messi. This limited edition drew in users by creating real-time interaction during a TikTok Shop livestream. PepsiCo's data indicates that one livestream session made up 70% of the group's Gross Merchandise Value (GMV). Moreover, recent surveys indicate that PepsiCo manages to draw in over 30,000 monthly purchasers on the platform, with a notable achievement of 25 hours of livestreaming each month. This performance is fueled not just by product visibility, but also enhanced through collaborations that provide a range of rewards and quick sales tactics, thereby heightening demand among Malaysian consumers. Gen Z are more than consumers – they form a digital community As digital natives who were among the first to experience and interact with internet platforms, Generation Z is more than just a consumer demographic. The market has expanded into the digital sphere as a direct result of this, changing the economic landscape. According to PepsiCo, Gen Z prioritizes accessibility on the platforms they use on a daily basis in addition to product quality. PepsiCo's e-commerce strategy has therefore changed from traditional advertising to a more natural, neighborhood-based, and health-conscious manner. Values are important to today's consumers; products are not enough. PepsiCo's approach in Malaysia demonstrates a twin focus: promoting healthier daily choices and improving the neighborhood. PepsiCo is still dedicated to addressing food insecurity despite dominance in the digital market Addressing food insecurity domestically and internationally is one of its top priorities. In honor of World Food Day in 2024, PepsiCo and The Assembly Soup Kitchen (TASK) collaborated to provide 1,000 food packets to underprivileged areas in Kuala Lumpur's Chow Kit neighborhood, which benefited B40 families, homeless people, and refugee schoolchildren. It is a component of a broader worldwide initiative in which the corporation has donated more than USD 14 million (about RM59 million) to the World Food Programme so far. Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
