
Efficient energy use in government buildings cuts costs
The ministry highlighted this during a recent seminar aimed at promoting energy-saving practices among civil servants.
The seminar, part of the Malaysia Energy Literacy Programme (MELP), focused on no-cost energy efficiency measures outlined in a directive issued by the Chief Secretary to the Government last April.
Deputy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir noted that government buildings, including offices, schools, and hospitals, are major energy consumers, with monthly electricity bills reaching RM260 million.
'Implementing no-cost energy efficiency measures could save the government three to five per cent in utility costs,' he said.
Simple steps like setting air conditioning to at least 24°C and switching off unused lights and appliances were emphasised as effective, low-effort solutions.
PETRA stated that such initiatives align with Malaysia MADANI's sustainability principles.
The seminar saw participation from 150 representatives across 49 ministries and agencies, fostering collaboration on energy conservation. - Bernama
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New Straits Times
11 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Economy Ministry: 13MP amendments deliberate, not sudden
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Malay Mail
an hour ago
- Malay Mail
RMK13 on watch: Execution, discipline, and delivery — Ahmad Faiz Yazid
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Under RMK13, operating costs (on wages, subsidies and debt servicing) are projected at a staggering RM1.81 trillion, much larger than the DE budget. If we fail to control these recurring expenses, even well-planned development spending cannot restore fiscal balance. In fact, interest payments alone now consume about 15 sen of every ringgit of revenue. Such non-productive debt servicing crowds out funds for schools, hospitals and infrastructure. Civil servants watch the live broadcast of the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13) presentation by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during a Bernama survey today. — Bernama pic In practical terms, each additional ringgit borrowed for debt repayment is a ringgit not available for growth initiatives. Over time, this undermines Malaysia's fiscal flexibility and risks crowding out investment. To keep the debt path sustainable, RMK13 must target a lower OE share of the budget. Any liberal subsidies or unchecked wage growth would dilute the gains from development projects. Hence, the plan's goals like halving the deficit mandate tough measures on spending. We should insist on annual budget reviews that explicitly map every expenditure line to the plan's targets, ensuring each ringgit advances a strategic outcome. History shows this is not a mere theory. Past auditor-general reports have exposed cost overruns and inefficiencies in state projects, with recent audits revealing irregularities in projects worth over RM48 billion. If RMK13 is to deliver its promise of productivity boosts and better living standards, it must include value-for-money checks on its biggest programs. For example, major infrastructure tenders and government-linked company ventures should be subject to rigorous audits and clear timelines. Transparent scorecards of progress (to be released each year) would keep implementation honest. In practice, this means linking the national budget to the plan's priorities so that voters and legislators can see exactly how policy commitments are funded. Beyond rhetoric: Linking plans to action Another risk is that RMK13 falls into the old ritual of planning without doing. In recent years, Malaysia's Five-Year Plans have become overloaded with frameworks and buzzwords, what critics call 'strategy soup'. Citizens outside the policy circles can barely recall the pillars of RMK12 or its '17 Big Shifts' under the Madani vision. This is not just an academic point: if people and even officials lose sight of the plan's core messages, implementation inevitably suffers. Therefore, RMK13 must break this cycle. It should be treated as a living contract with the nation, not a decorative launch event. The plan's authors (consisting of many government officials) and Cabinet must commit to institutional accountability. A first step would be to publish a frank 'report card' on RMK12, spelling out what policies worked, which fell short, and why. This would not only build trust but also guide better policy design. Going forward, every ministry budget (from 2026 onward) should be tagged against the plan's priorities, effectively making the budget a GPS to track the plan's journey. In other words, spending decisions cannot be made in a vacuum: each ringgit should contribute to specific plan targets (as if raising exports, cutting poverty, improving human capital). The plan's presentation itself should become simpler and more results-focused. Instead of drowning readers in dozens of sub-themes, it is recommended to focus on four or five outcomes that matter most to Malaysians, such as wage growth, affordable energy, efficient public services, digital skills and effective social safety nets. Clear KPIs (key performance indicators) for each outcome would then be set and publicised. For instance, goals like 'full employment by 2030' or 'average household income of RM12,000' should have intermediate milestones and timelines, not be vague ambitions. Other countries serve as proof of concept: South Korea runs a national dashboard tracking every agency's five-year targets, while Indonesia's planning agency links its development plan to real-time implementation updates. Malaysia can do the same. By reporting on progress quarterly or annually, perhaps via a user-friendly online portal, we turn the plan from a static document into an ongoing monitoring process. An empowered existing Economic Planning Unit under the Ministry of Economy or secretariat should be charged with keeping this data updated and public. Critically, citizen engagement must be built into RMK13. The plan should launch with an online platform where any Malaysian can check progress, download data, and even give feedback. Such a portal would help move away from opaque decision-making. If people can see which projects are on schedule and ask questions (or flag issues), political leaders will feel more accountable. Transparency breeds trust: a development plan becomes a genuine social contract with the rakyat, rather than an elite blueprint gathering dust. * Ahmad Faiz Yazid holds a Bachelor of Economics from Universiti Malaya and is currently a Graduate Executive Trainee at Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB). ** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.


Free Malaysia Today
12 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
South Africa eyes new markets after US tariffs
South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasised that safeguarding export industries is the government's primary concern. (AP pic) JOHANNESBURG : South Africa is seeking new markets in Africa and Asia as it negotiates with the United States over looming 30% trade tariffs, which could cost around 30,000 jobs, officials said Monday. Government ministers expressed frustration with the US over the tariff – among those due to take effect against several countries later this week – saying South African exports do not compete with US industry and were only a fraction of that country's total imports. The 30% tariff is the highest in sub-Saharan Africa and comes as diplomatic relations between South Africa and the US are in tatters over a range of domestic and international policies. 'Our foremost priority is protecting our export industries,' president Cyril Ramaphosa said in his weekly newsletter. 'We will continue to engage the US in an attempt to preserve market access for our products. We must also accelerate the diversification of our export markets, particularly by deepening intra-African trade,' he said. The US is South Africa's second-largest trading partner by country after China. The tariffs will in particular hit South Africa's agriculture, automotive and textiles sectors, officials said, although 35% of exports are exempted, including copper, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, lumber articles and certain critical minerals. The impact on growth depends on various factors, including the sourcing of alternative markets, foreign minister Ronald Lamola said in a statement. He cited forecasts that the impact may shave 0.2% off growth, which was only around 0.1% in the first quarter of this year. The South African Reserve Bank last week warned that the US levy could cost 100,000 jobs, with unemployment already at more than 30%. But trade department director general Simphiwe Hamilton told reporters Monday their estimate was that approximately 30,000 jobs could be affected. South Africa 'no threat' In a bid to avert the high tariff, South Africa has offered to import US liquefied natural gas and some US agricultural products, as well as invest in its mining and metals-recycling industries. Pretoria is focused on negotiations for a new deal despite the 'very extreme provocation' on the part of the US, Lamola told reporters. The 30% tariff was 'inscrutable' considering that imports from South Africa only represented 0.25% of total US imports, the minister said. 'Moreover, South Africa poses no trade threat to the US economy or its national security,' he said, arguing the imports supported US industry and did not compete with it. An example was that South African agriculture exports were 'counter-seasonal' and so filled gaps in the US market without replacing domestic produce, he said. Pretoria's plummeting ties with Washington and failure to reach a new trade deal have been heavily criticised at home, including by some of the parties in the coalition government who have accused Ramaphosa and his team of diplomatic missteps. On top of disagreements over a range of issues, including South Africa's case accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza at the International Court of Justice, Washington in March expelled Pretoria's ambassador after he criticised Trump's Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement. In his newsletter, Ramaphosa said the government has established a support desk that will help exporters and producers explore alternative markets in the rest of Africa, Asia and the Middle East. It will also push forward with plans for a free-trade area for the African continent, he said. The US announced last week 15% tariffs on exports from several sub-Saharan countries, including the export-reliant small mountain kingdom of Lesotho, which had initially been threatened with 50% tariffs.