Malaysia will move faster towards renewable energy while strengthening national water management, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said as the country enters the fourth year of the MADANI agenda, reports Business Today.
Fadillah, who also leads the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry (PETRA), reiterated that the government aims to produce 70 percent of the nation’s electricity capacity from renewable sources by 2050, a target set under the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR).
As of October, Malaysia has reached 31 percent installed renewable energy capacity. The 13th Malaysia Plan aims to increase this to 35 percent by 2030.
To meet these goals, Fadillah said the government will introduce and expand several key programmes. These include launching the sixth round of the Large-Scale Solar Programme in early 2026, adding a 300-megawatt quota for biogas, biomass and small hydropower under the Feed-In Tariff scheme, and starting the Corporate Renewable Energy Supply Scheme, which will allow consumers to buy renewable energy directly from producers.
The Solar ATAP programme will be widened so that more households and businesses can generate their own electricity. Another initiative, the Community Renewable Energy Aggregation Mechanism, will allow communities to jointly produce power through combined rooftop solar systems.
The Low Carbon Energy Generation Programme will focus on expanding non-solar energy sources such as biogas, biomass and small hydropower.
On water management, Fadillah said PETRA will strengthen the National Water Policy to ensure long-term water security and support the water sector as a new area of economic growth.
He said the ministry will work to improve coordination between federal and state governments by strengthening the National Water Council (MAN), which is chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The council will help address cross-border water issues and resolve overlaps in responsibilities.
PETRA also plans to set up a National Hydrology Data Centre to bring together all water-related data under one platform. This will allow decisions to be made using scientific information and more accurate water resource forecasts, supporting a more integrated water management approach.
The ministry will also look into alternative water sources such as groundwater, rainwater harvesting and desalination while stepping up efforts to protect water catchment areas.
To improve efficiency and long-term sustainability, PETRA will move ahead with the second phase of amendments to the Water Services Industry Act 2006, which will strengthen enforcement, improve the use of reclaimed water and support recycling practices. The Water Sector Transformation Plan 2040 will also introduce new financing models, including partnerships between the government and private sector.
As part of the ‘Rancakkan MADANI Bersama Malaysiaku’ programme, PETRA is holding awareness activities and exhibitions to educate the public on saving energy and managing water resources. These include displays on Net Energy Metering 3.0, the NUR@PETRA programme, demonstrations on sustainable cleaning and a model of the Langat Sewage Treatment Plant.
Fadillah said the goal is to help Malaysians understand the value of conserving energy and water and to encourage more sustainable daily habits.
