Sarawak to play key role in ASEAN Power Grid
He said the East Malaysian state has been supplying electricity to West Kalimantan, Indonesia, for the past six years, and it is currently in the process of supplying electricity to Brunei.
'Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) has asked me to study the possibility of supplying power from Sarawak to Sabah and to connect to Brunei.
'Sarawak will play its part to contribute to the ASEAN Grid,' he said at the Sustainable Leadership Fireside Chat-Leading ASEAN's Sustainable and Digital Frontier at the ASEAN Women Economic Summit 2025 (AWES 2025) held at a hotel (Shangri-La) here today.
Abang Johari said Sarawak is also actively enhancing its grid infrastructure to strengthen power distribution across the state and beyond.
Sarawak has targeted to generate 10 gigawatts (GW) of energy production by 2030 and 15 GW by 2035.
The session was moderated by UOB Malaysia Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ng Wei Wei.
UOB Malaysia is the main sponsor of AWES 2025, with Kuok Brothers Sdn Bhd as the empowerment partner.
On women and leadership, the Premier said the role should be assigned based on merit and qualifications, rather than gender, while societal acceptance of women as leaders is crucial in the right step forward.
Citing examples, he said India's Indira Gandhi and Pakistan's Benazir Bhutto who had served as prime minister in their respective country had shown that despite societal biases, effective leadership can rise above gender-based limitations.
He also said the societal acceptance of women in leadership roles is crucial, as some Asian cultures still face gender bias, but examples like Indira Gandhi and Benazir Bhutto show that change is possible.
The two-day inaugural AWES 2025, which began Saturday, was held on the sidelines of the 46th ASEAN Summit, held under Malaysia's 2025 Chairmanship. It was attended by over 700 delegates representing government, business, and civil society across ASEAN.
Themed 'Empowering Women, Energising ASEAN: Pioneering Economic Integration for a Resilient Tomorrow', AWES highlighted the urgent need to position women at the forefront of ASEAN's economic transformation, particularly in addressing current challenges such as global tariff wars, digital transformation, and sustainable development.
It also featured discussion and strategic brainstorming sessions, leadership lab and mentorship programme
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Borneo Post
13 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Rectify systemic infringement on Sabah's constitutional and economic rights - LDP
Chin KOTA KINABALU (July 4): Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) treasurer general Chin Kian Ming has issued a strongly worded statement, condemning the federal government under the leadership of Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim for continuously delaying, weakening, and even denying the constitutional rights granted to Sabah under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). The party warned that such actions constitute a double betrayal of the political dignity and economic future of the people of Sabah. Chin expressed deep dissatisfaction over the federal government's failure to fulfill Sabah's rightful entitlement to the 40% net revenue return. According to Articles 112C and 112D of the Federal Constitution, this return mechanism should have been a cornerstone of Sabah's financial autonomy. However, the revenue formula originally scheduled for completion by July 2024 has yet to be announced or supported by any legal implementation mechanism. Chin criticized, 'This is no longer just administrative delay — it reflects institutional disregard and a blatant violation of constitutional principles.' He pointed out that Article VIII of MA63 clearly requires that the provisions of the Agreement be implemented through legislation or other formal mechanisms, especially regarding the rights of the East Malaysian states. However, to date, the federal government has not taken any meaningful legal action to return powers to Sabah. The related committees have become mere 'symbolic platforms' with no tangible progress in restoring Sabah's legal position. He also harshly criticized the federal government for continuously relying on and enforcing the Petroleum Development Act 1974 (PDA) and the Territorial Sea Act 2012 (TSA) without the consent of the Sabah state government. These two Acts effectively strip the state of control over petroleum and maritime resources. Such actions clearly violate Paragraph 24 of the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) Report, which states that land and natural resources shall remain under the exclusive jurisdiction of the state unless otherwise amended by the State Legislative Assembly. He further pointed out that although Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution was amended in 2019 to restore Sabah and Sarawak's status as 'partner states' (rakan sekutu), this restoration has had no substantive impact in practice. Sabah continues to be treated as a second-class state in matters of federal budget allocation, project prioritization and national policy consultation, which is a serious departure from the founding spirit of the Federation in 1963. According to Chin, the federal government's persistent denial of Sabah's rightful status and autonomy has led to long-term structural developmental imbalance. Despite being one of the richest states in Malaysia in terms of natural resources, Sabah continues to suffer from the highest poverty rates and weakest access to education and healthcare services. This reflects not only economic exploitation, but also systemic neglect of Sabahans' right to survival and development. Chin emphasized that Sabah should enjoy localized decision-making powers in education and healthcare. According to Paragraphs 15 and 17 of the IGC Report, Sabah is entitled to tailor policies to local conditions. However, the reality is that the highly centralized federal system severely suppresses local reforms, leading to shortages in rural hospitals, deteriorated school infrastructure, and a massive outflow of local talent — creating a vicious cycle of 'resource extraction and entrenched poverty.' He also expressed concern over the gradual erosion of Sabah's rights in language and cultural-religious diversity. MA63 guarantees the right for Sabah to continue using English as an official administrative language and to preserve the state's multireligious environment. However, recent years have seen increasing pressure from federal unification policies that threaten Sabah's generational tradition of harmonious multiculturalism. Even more worrying is the systemic weakening of Sabah's immigration autonomy. According to Paragraph 6 of the IGC Report, Sabah has the legal authority to control the entry and residence of non-state residents to preserve demographic balance and social stability. The federal government's repeated attempts to pressure Sabah into relaxing these controls have led to increasing issues with illegal immigration and demographic imbalances, fueling deep public anxiety. He stressed that the Malaysia Agreement 1963 is not just a historical document, but a living political covenant that serves as the foundation of Sabah and Sarawak's entry into Malaysia. If the spirit of this covenant continues to be undermined, it will ultimately destabilize the unity of the Federation itself. He called for the immediate implementation of the 40% revenue return mechanism; the repeal of federal laws imposed without East Malaysia's consent; and full restoration of state autonomy in natural resources, education, healthcare, land and immigration. Chin further declared its intention to pursue additional political and legal measures, including proposing motions in the Sabah State Assembly, seeking judicial review, and strengthening strategic alliances with other local political parties to defend East Malaysian rights. 'We will no longer settle for symbolic gestures. The people of Sabah demand real autonomy and genuine respect — not hollow rhetoric and double standards. 'MA63 is not a relic of the past, but a living legal contract. If the federal government continues to violate its terms, it is not just betraying Sabah — it is undermining the rule of law in Malaysia. The Liberal Democratic Party stands united with the people of Sabah to defend our rightful entitlements, our resources, and our future,' Chin concluded in its statement.
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
UOB, FMM, SMF ink deal to boost manufacturing ties
From left: Federation of Malaysian Manufacturing president Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai, UOB Malaysia CEO Ng Wei Wei, UOB deputy chairman and CEO Wee Ee Cheong, Singapore Deputy Prime Minister and trade and industry minister Gan Kim Yong and deputy investment, trade and industry minister Liew Chin Tong. PETALING JAYA: United Overseas Bank (M) Bhd (UOB Malaysia) has signed a tripartite memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) and the Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF) to strengthen regional economic integration and promote foreign direct investment (FDI) flows. The bank, in a statement, said the partnership aims to strengthen the Malaysia-Singapore manufacturing corridor by leveraging UOB's regional network and expertise to help businesses, especially SMEs, expand across borders and grow sustainably. It supports the 2025 Asean Summit's theme of inclusivity, of which Malaysia chaired and hosted, ensuring that businesses of all sizes can participate in and benefit from regional growth. The agreement also builds on the momentum of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) agreement between both governments. UOB Malaysia CEO Ng Wei Wei said the bank is proud to be an early JS-SEZ supporter, having launched the Green Lane with Invest Johor, set up SEZ Desks, and introduced fast-track account openings. 'Since 2024, UOB has committed RM11.5bil in financing to support businesses in Johor and is actively facilitating RM10bil of FDI flows into the zone. 'Through this MoU, we look forward to working with FMM and SMF to help their members seize cross-border opportunities and contribute to Asean's industrial growth,' she said. The MoU reflects UOB's long-term commitment to Asean's sustainable growth, aiming to promote cross-border opportunities and deepen collaboration in trade, investment, and manufacturing between Singapore and Malaysia, for stakeholders and ecosystem partners. To support these efforts, UOB will provide advisory services, including tailored market entry and in-market guidance for FMM and SMF members. These services will help businesses navigate the financial and operational aspects of establishing a presence in Singapore, Malaysia, and across South-East Asia. FMM president Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai said the collaboration sets the stage for more cross-border success stories under the JS-SEZ.
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
CDNetworks Selected as Strategic Partner by Petrolimex Aviation to Bolster Cybersecurity with AI-Powered Cloud Platform
SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 3 July 2025 - CDNetworks, the APAC-leading network to deliver edge as a service, today announced that Petrolimex Aviation, a major provider of aviation fuel services in Vietnam, has selected CDNetworks' AI-powered cloud security platform to strengthen its digital defenses and ensure the reliable delivery of its web-based services. The strategic partnership marks a significant shift in Petrolimex Aviation's security strategy, empowering the company to address emerging threats in a rapidly changing cybersecurity landscape proactively. It also allows Petrolimex Aviation to optimize both the speed and safety of its service delivery, supporting its commitment to operational excellence and customer trust. Key results: • Reliable performance and service delivery throughout Vietnam and Southeast Asia. • Adaptive, AI-powered defense that continuously evolves to counter new threats. • Comprehensive protection that touches every key phase of its defense journey. • Professional, responsive technical assistance from a dedicated local expert team. 'CDNetworks has proven to be a partner we can count on across the board, from solutions and services to local presence,' said Mr. Tran Minh Thang, CIO at Petrolimex Aviation. 'Their integrated solution and dependable support offer peace of mind that is essential to maintaining our operational resilience.' 'We're pleased to see our partnership enabling Petrolimex Aviation to maintain high service reliability while proactively defending against emerging risks,' said Antony Li, APAC Head of Sales at CDNetworks. 'This reflects our broader commitment to enabling Southeast Asian enterprises with a cohesive strategy to unify security, performance, and business objectives.' Hashtag: #CDNetworks #PetrolimexAviation #Security #Performance #CaseStudy The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
