KUALA LUMPUR: RHB Banking Group today hosted an investor conference on water and energy sectors in Malaysia, with more than 100 local institutional investors participating.
The conference highlighted the government’s efforts to reform the water and energy industries, ensure the long-term sustainable supply of clean water and explore a more efficient model for electricity generation and consumption, including the propagation of greater usage of renewable energy.
The one-day conference was attended by Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar Arulanandam, and Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Yeo Bee Yin.
Also present were Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Air Negara chairman Charles Santiago and Energy Commission chairman Datuk Ir Ahmad Fauzi Hasan.
RHB group managing director Datuk Khairussaleh Ramli said as the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development becomes closer, it is relevant for Malaysia to look for game changers to transform the country’s energy landscape.
“Investments into renewable energy technology is expected to be a long-term solution to the rapidly rising energy demand across the globe as well as locally, and thus, limiting pollution as well as emission levels,” he said in his welcome speech.
Dr Xavier believes that Malaysia has significant upside potential for more robust growth in sectors related to water, land and natural resources.
“Thus policymakers and industries must work hand in hand in transforming and leveraging on this strategic sectors so that it can roll out its full potential to create and capture more value.
“This effort must be pursued through relevant and sound knowledge with good practices to ensure a balance between economic prosperity, social well-being and environmental protection towards sustainable development,” he said.
Yeo said the conference highlighted the ministry’s extensive initiatives in energy reform especially renewable energy, research and development, start-up funding and climate change.
She lauded RHB’s efforts in providing investors and government a platform for discourse and to drive vibrant investment opportunities in the energy sector.