
Sarawak reaffirms stand as SEA clean energy leader
In his keynote address, Sarawak Deputy Energy and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni emphasised strong policy commitment, sustained innovation investment and robust regional cooperation as the state's foundation for energy transition.
'Sarawak is proud to be a pioneer in ASEAN when it comes to clean energy development. Our participation at EEC 2025 reflects our readiness to forge new global partnerships and export low-carbon energy solutions to the world,' he said in a statement issued by his ministry on Thursday night.
He said Sarawak's integrated strategy revolves around four strategic hubs – renewable energy, natural gas, carbon capture and storage (CCS), and hydrogen – each designed to foster regional resilience and sustainable growth.
'With over 70 per cent of the electricity already derived from hydropower, Sarawak is on track to further expand its renewable energy capacity by 2030 and 2035,' he said.
He said Sarawak solidified its role as the 'Battery of ASEAN' by actively pursuing regional power exports to West Kalimantan, Brunei, Sabah and soon, Singapore.
Furthermore, Sarawak leads Malaysia in natural gas reserves and CCS potential. It is also pioneering hydrogen development with flagship projects and dedicated legislation to attract global investors.
Meanwhile, Sarawak Deputy State Secretary (Economic Planning and Development) Datuk Seri Dr Muhammad Abdullah Zaidel said global platforms like EEC play a crucial role in establishing resilient energy ecosystems.
'Our presence here in Aberdeen is a statement of intent. Sarawak is open for business, open for innovation, and ready to lead in clean energy exports,' he said.
At the conference, Sarawak Energy Bhd shared its long-term sustainability agenda and cross-border grid integration plans while Sarawak Economic Development Corporation's subsidiary, SEDC Energy, highlighted ongoing collaborations with Japanese and South Korean partners to develop hydrogen and ammonia export capabilities.
'These initiatives underscore Sarawak's commitment to innovation and international partnerships. Supported by comprehensive policies and strategic roadmaps, Sarawak's clean energy initiatives are unlocking new investment opportunities and creating high-value jobs for a sustainable future.
'With international recognition from the World Economic Forum and upcoming events such as International Energy Week 2025 and the Sustainable & Renewable Energy Forum (SAREF) 4.0, Sarawak is actively inviting global partners to join its journey toward a sustainable and inclusive energy future,' the statement added.
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Borneo Post
5 hours ago
- Borneo Post
AirAsia's KK–Fukuoka route via Taipei boosts Sabah's tourism
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At the launching ceremony in Fukuoka International Airport, Captain Fareh said the launch marked a significant milestone for AirAsia. 'We are pleased to launch our first-ever fifth freedom route from Taipei to Fukuoka, highlighting an important milestone as we expand into Japan. This reflects our continued commitment to growing Kota Kinabalu as a strategic hub in East Malaysia, while providing greater travel flexibility for our guests. We are confident this connectivity will stimulate tourism and business opportunities between Kota Kinabalu, Taipei and Fukuoka, while offering more value and convenience at affordable fares,' he said. Captain Fareh also said the new route is expected to boost Sabah's tourism sector while opening wider economic opportunities across the region. He said Fukuoka was a natural choice for AirAsia's debut entry into Japan, given the airline group's existing presence in six Japanese cities and its aim to enhance connectivity between ASEAN, Taiwan and Japan. 'As you know, AirAsia as a group is already operating in six cities in Japan. So naturally, we are looking to provide better options and connectivity between ASEAN and the rest of Asia, especially to Japan,' he said. Captain Fareh said the new connection is particularly significant for Sabah. 'You can leave Fukuoka in the late afternoon and arrive in Kota Kinabalu the same night. That convenience is something we want to highlight for Japanese travelers,' he said. He added that Sabah has strong appeal for Japanese and Taiwanese visitors, thanks to its natural wonders and affordability. 'From the lushness of one of the oldest tropical forests in the world to the highest peak of Southeast Asia, Sabah has got a lot to offer. This new connectivity opens a door of exploration, not just to Sabah, but also to ASEAN through AirAsia's network of more than 130 destinations across Asia and Australia,' he said. Beyond tourism, Captain Fareh noted the new route will help connect businesses and strengthen economic growth. 'We also want to connect people, businesses, and economic drivers for the three countries. By providing this connectivity, we hope to increase capacity within this market and promote more economic growth. Sabah is famous for its great nature, but it can also be a hub for trade and investment,' he said. Passenger response to the new route has been highly encouraging, he disclosed, adding that between Fukuoka and Taipei, bookings are already running at high 90 percent. 'Today's flight was 100 percent sold. For Sabah–Taipei, we already have around 80 percent bookings on most flights, and with this new link to Fukuoka, we expect the numbers to improve further,' he said. On the potential of the Muslim-friendly travel market, Captain Fareh said the connectivity offers a new option for travelers in southern Japan, particularly from Kyushu, where AirAsia is now the only airline directly linking to Kota Kinabalu. 'I believe we will work closely with Tourism Malaysia to expand the potential of attracting more Muslim travelers, similar to what Taiwan has successfully done. With Sabah's ready halal food options and reputation as a Muslim-friendly destination, we are confident this market can grow further,' he said. Captain Fareh expressed optimism that the new Fukuoka–Taipei–Kota Kinabalu service will not only enhance Sabah's visibility in Japan but also position the state as a gateway to ASEAN. 'We are looking forward to the success of this route, not just in terms of tourism, but also in contributing to economic development,' he said. Tourism Malaysia Director in Japan, Syaliza Abd. Aziz, described the new route as a timely development that could directly benefit Sabah's tourism industry. 'This is such a good move for us to have a direct flight from Kota Kinabalu to Fukuoka,' she said. 'Although it is an existing route linked from Taipei to Kota Kinabalu, this expansion creates more promotional opportunities between Taiwan, Malaysia and Japan. With this new flight, we believe more Japanese tourists will visit Sabah directly, especially as we are celebrating Visit Malaysia Year next year,' she opined. On the growing Muslim travel market, Syaliza noted that Japan has been proactive in providing facilities to cater for Muslim-friendly tourism, including halal food options in major cities such as Tokyo. 'For Japanese visitors to Malaysia, our culture, heritage and lifestyle are already strong attractions. But when it comes to Muslim travel, Japan itself has improved tremendously, making it easier for Muslim travelers to feel comfortable here,' she explained. She added that the increasing presence of Middle Eastern visitors in Japan shows how the country is becoming more adventurous in embracing Muslim-friendly tourism. Syaliza emphasised that Japan's readiness for Muslim travel complements Malaysia's global standing as one of the top Muslim-friendly destinations, creating opportunities for closer cooperation in tourism promotion. 'With this new connectivity, we look forward to seeing more Japanese tourists flying directly into Sabah. This is a strong platform to attract more visitors to Malaysia and especially to our state,' she said. The significance of the new link was also acknowledged by officials in Japan and Taiwan. Bruce Chen, Consul General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Fukuoka, congratulated AirAsia on the achievement. 'This new service enhances convenience between Japan and Taiwan through increased flights on the Fukuoka–Taipei sector, while also offering excellent daily connectivity between East Asia and Southeast Asia. It will promote tourism, business and cultural exchange across the three cities and their regions. I hope this route will contribute to stronger people-to-people ties and international cooperation among our countries,' he said. Shinji Tagawa, Representative Director, President & CEO of Fukuoka International Airport Co. Ltd., said the airport was honoured to be chosen as AirAsia Malaysia's first destination in Japan. 'We are continuously enhancing our capabilities as an international hub through terminal expansion and a second runway. This new route will provide greater options not only for travellers in Fukuoka and Kyushu, but also strengthen links in tourism, business, culture, education and more,' he said. AirAsia Malaysia will operate daily flights on the new route using Airbus A320 family aircraft, including the A320neo, with a seating capacity of 186. Promotional all-in one-way fares start from RM679 from Kota Kinabalu to Fukuoka, TWD2,990 from Taipei to Fukuoka, JPY23,990 for Fukuoka to Kota Kinabalu, and JPY15,900 for the Fukuoka–Taipei sector. The introductory fares are available for booking from August 16 to 18 for travel between August 16 and December 15, 2025, via and the AirAsia MOVE app.


The Star
6 hours ago
- The Star
Uncertainties over US interest rates will likely see the ringgit trade around RM4.20-4.22 this week
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The Star
16 hours ago
- The Star
China urges Japan to exercise caution on Yasukuni Shrine issues
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