Latest news with #RM547
New Straits Times
03-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
TNB ordered to pay RM547k in late interest to landowner
PUTRAJAYA: Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) has been ordered to pay RM547,105 in late payment interest to a company for delays in compensating it for land used in a transmission line project. A three-member Court of Appeal panel led by Federal Court judge Datuk Lee Swee Seng said the national utility giant must pay the sum to Lambang Kelana Sdn Bhd after finding that the company had been unfairly deprived of its money for over five years due to administrative delays. Other members of the bench were Court of Appeal judges Datuk Azimah Omar and Datuk Wong Kian Kheong. According to court documents, in 2007, TNB had prematurely entered Lambang Kelana's land without due compliance with wayleave procedures under Section 11 of the Electricity Supply Act to install electrical infrastructure. The section stipulates that utility companies must follow specific procedures before entering private land to install or build electrical infrastructure, including giving formal notice to landowners and paying full compensation for any disturbance or loss of use of the land. Lambang Kelana was neither served the statutory notice nor paid proper compensation for the loss of the portion of land acquired as wayleave for TNB. The dispute led to a protracted legal battle, and TNB only paid RM2.1 million in compensation in 2020. However, the payment did not include any interest for the long delay. In 2021, the Negri Sembilan State Authority decided that Lambang Kelana should receive RM1,369,332.95 in late payment interest for the delay in compensation from October 2015 to December 2020. However, TNB filed a judicial review to challenge the decision in the High Court and succeeded in getting it overturned. Azimah, who delivered the unanimous decision in dismissing the lower court's ruling, said the trial judge had misinterpreted the law by adopting a narrow and literal reading of the relevant provisions. "To deprive the appellant of its rightful late payment charges would certainly transgress upon the appellant's constitutional rights safeguarded under Article 13(2) of the Federal Constitution. "Despite the delay caused by the Land Administrator, TNB was still unjustly enriched by being able to utilise and earn interest on the monies that were supposed to be paid to Lambang Kelana for the entire duration of the delay," she said. The appellate court said any interpretation of the law that allows government authorities or licensees to delay compensation with impunity would be unjust. "We are certain that no statute ever legislated within our nation would promote a statutory authority to delay justice with impunity at the expense of unjust losses incurred against innocent landowners. "If that be the case, then TNB would stand to unjustly benefit by holding onto monies that should have been paid to landowners, courtesy of delays by the Land Administrator. "In the meantime, the Land Administrator would not suffer a single sen for the entire duration of the delay. The only party to suffer losses would be the landowner. "Such an interpretation would truly be absurd and unjust," the court added. The court also did not make any order for costs. Lambang Kelana was represented by lawyers Yeoh Cho Kheong and T. Subbbiah, while lawyer David Dinesh Mathew appeared for TNB.
The Sun
05-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Meeting the AI challenge: Six practical, green approaches
'THE best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, and the second-best time is today.' This saying is more relevant than ever in the race to develop sustainable data centres, especially with the rapid rise of AI. This transformative technology is driving energy demand to unprecedented levels, threatening global sustainability goals. AI mirroring energy use The numbers tell a sobering story. The rise of AI is fueling demand for high-volume processing, with data centres projected to consume 2% of global electricity in 2025 — about 536 TWh — doubling to 1,065 TWh by 2030. Malaysia is fast becoming a heavyweight in the data centre arena, and Johor exemplifies this rapid expansion. In early 2021, the state's data centre capacity stood at just 10MW. By 2024, this capacity has surged to over 1,500MW, according to DC Byte. Generative AI is the driving force behind this expansion, with investment in mission-critical infrastructure expected to rise from US$125.35 billion (RM547 billion) in 2024 to US$364.62 billion by 2034. While this growth unlocks new possibilities across the world, but also raises pressing sustainability concerns, requiring a fundamental shift in how data centres source, manage, and consume energy. What's at stake AI is reshaping industries and is projected to add US$15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030. However, it's a double-edged sword. Malaysia's Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad has cautioned against these environmental impacts, prompting the government to adopt a more selective approach to tech investments. Johor's AI-driven data centres illustrate this concern, with projections of electricity demand hitting over 5,000 MW by 2035 and applications for supply already surpassing 11,000 MW — nearly 40% of Peninsular Malaysia's power capacity. While AI increases productivity, it also intensifies power consumption, heat generation, and emissions, requiring advanced cooling solutions. Simultaneously, data centre infrastructure management solutions integrated with AI analytical power can proactively simulate and address enterprise data centre challenges. In the face of growing global attention on sustainability, inaction is no longer an option. With Malaysia's focus on sustainability, the industry has a clear mandate: embrace sustainability and efficiency as environmental imperatives as well as smart business strategies. The good news is there are tremendous benefits to this approach. Six practical solutions Above all else, a commitment to sustainability must be practical. To curb AI's environmental impact, operators must tackle three core challenges: strengthening sustainability strategies, addressing Scope 3 emissions, and meeting regulatory demands. Here's how: 0 Evaluate infrastructure for efficiency: Identifying inefficiencies in cooling systems, server utilisation, and energy management for significant improvements. 0 Adopt efficient infrastructure: Transitioning to modern servers, advanced cooling systems and renewable energy sources to reduce carbon footprint. Designing facilities with energy efficiency in mind and retrofitting older infrastructures can further optimize energy usage and contribute to substantial savings. 0 Collaborate with sustainable suppliers: Sustainability isn't achievable in isolation. By collaborating with suppliers committed to decarbonising their supply chains, operators can effectively address Scope 3 emissions, the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions for businesses. 0 Leverage advanced reporting tools: Real-time monitoring enables operators to identify inefficiencies and implement corrective measures promptly, optimising energy use. 0 Leverage AI for optimisation: AI can play a significant role in efficiently allocating resources, predicting maintenance requirements, and integrating renewable energy — ultimately minimising waste and lowering emissions. 0 Continuously reassess and improve: Sustainability is an ongoing effort — regular assessments, benchmarking against industry standards, and adopting best practices will drive lasting progress. Second best time You can't go back in time to plant a tree, but you can do the next best thing and plant one today. The time to rethink your sustainability agenda is now. As AI accelerates growth in the data centre industry, it is crucial to take immediate action to rein in carbon emissions. While expertise and resources may be limited, companies can collaborate with vendors offering sustainability services to craft comprehensive strategies for a greener future. This article is contributed by Schneider Electric country president for Malaysia, Eugene Quah.
