By Engku Shariful Azni Engku Ab Latif
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 5 (Bernama) -- An industry player has urged the government to strengthen energy efficiency and embed sustainable solutions, such as district cooling systems (DCS), to cut emissions, lower costs, and build resilient infrastructure for the future in Budget 2026.
Engie Services Malaysia Sdn Bhd's managing director, Wong Yin Kee, said demand for cooling systems is set to surge with the growth of data centres and advanced manufacturing. Centralising cooling systems is more sustainable and efficient than having each building use its own system.
"Countries at the forefront of sustainable urban development already embed DCS as a standard, and Malaysia should do the same to reduce emissions, lower energy costs, and ensure reliability," he told Bernama.
He said Engie Services Malaysia supports businesses, cities, and industries in moving towards a low-carbon future by delivering energy efficiency solutions, modernising industrial facilities, providing district cooling, and developing large-scale renewable energy projects.
Wong also urged the government to strengthen the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act (EECA) by setting clear, enforceable targets for large energy users. He noted that while the current framework is an excellent foundation, it focuses largely on reporting.
Hence, Wong suggested that the government introduce clear efficiency targets, for example, a minimum chiller plant energy efficiency gains per year to drive real progress while enabling industries to reinvest savings into growth and innovation.
"Malaysia has already taken bold steps forward. By embedding energy efficiency and district cooling into policy frameworks, we can unlock significant cost savings for businesses, reduce national carbon intensity, and build more resilient, future-ready infrastructure.
"Engie Services Malaysia stands ready to work alongside government and industry to turn these opportunities into reality," he said.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the finance minister, is scheduled to table Budget 2026 in parliament on Oct 10.
-- BERNAMA
BERNAMA provides up-to-date authentic and comprehensive news and information which are disseminated via BERNAMA Wires; www.bernama.com; BERNAMA TV on Astro 502, unifi TV 631 and MYTV 121 channels and BERNAMA Radio on FM93.9 (Klang Valley), FM107.5 (Johor Bahru), FM107.9 (Kota Kinabalu) and FM100.9 (Kuching) frequencies.
Follow us on social media :
Facebook : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatv, @bernamaradio
Twitter : @bernama.com, @BernamaTV, @bernamaradio
Instagram : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatvofficial, @bernamaradioofficial
TikTok : @bernamaofficial
