Malaysia’s Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has said Malaysia supports Vietnam’s idea for an ASEAN Power Grid. This plan would connect energy systems between ASEAN countries. Anwar met Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to discuss this plan. He said Malaysia supports new renewable energy projects in southern Vietnam. This could include seabed cables to connect power lines.
Malaysia sees the ASEAN Power Grid as one way to help with energy security and economic growth. Anwar said he will talk more about this with Vietnam’s Prime Minister at the ASEAN Summit in October.
During this visit, Anwar also spoke about other areas where Malaysia and Vietnam work together. These areas include trade, investment, defence, security, fishing, green energy, and oil and gas. Anwar said he wants both countries to work closer to stop illegal fishing. He said this would help protect marine resources.
Anwar also met Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly. Both agreed to find more ways to work together. Malaysia’s Prime Minister also met the World Trade Organisation’s director-general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. He said Malaysia supports the WTO’s work but wants it to be more open and fair for developing countries.
Besides the regional plan, Malaysia has small renewable energy projects inside the country. Some local town councils have started small solar roof projects. One recent project added 100 kilowatts of rooftop solar to a local market building in Selangor. In Johor, a small community group has built a mini solar farm of 500 kilowatts to power local homes.
In South Africa, similar small green projects are taking shape. Local farmers in Eastern Cape have pooled money to add solar panels to power water pumps for crops. The system gives about 60 kilowatts. A rural school in Limpopo added a 75-kilowatt rooftop solar system to run lights and computers.
