PUTRAJAYA: The government has agreed to utilise electric vehicles as the official vehicle to transport Asean country leaderss and officials in conjunction with Malaysia's Asean Chairmanship in 2025, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said the matter was agreed upon by the cabinet recently to showcase Malaysia's seriousness about energy sustainability and energy transition.
Anwar who is also the Finance Minister said the decision would be informed to all the Asean countries.
"Let us showcase in Malaysia, (that) all cars to be provided for heads of the government, ministers, and officials will only be EV cars.
"That is the decision and the good news is that it is much cheaper.
"We will inform the heads of (Asean) states," Anwar said during the Malaysian Madani Scholars Forum: The Energy Sector as a Catalyst for Sustainable and Inclusive Socioeconomic Growth.
On Oct 11, Laos officially handed over the Asean Chairmanship to Malaysia during the 44th and 45th Asean Summits in Vientiane.
Previously, Anwar stated that Malaysia's Chairmanship would open a new chapter under the Asean Community Vision 2045.
Malaysia previously held the Asean Chairmanship in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015.
Founded on August 8, 1967, Asean now comprises 10 Southeast Asian countries, with Timor-Leste's full membership still in progress.