Smuggling, other illegal activities a threat to emerging industries such as green energy, says Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR: New emerging industries such as the renewable energy and rare earth sectors are facing the threat of illegal activities such as smuggling, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The Prime Minister said that action against such illegal activities had not been firmed.

"Our constraint lies in several emerging industries, including renewable energy and the current use of rare earth resources facing various issues of smuggling and illicit actions.

"Only the Negeri Sembilan state government has taken firm action to shut down illegal factories.

"However, other states have not taken strong measures to prevent foreigners, especially, from utilising our capabilities and local resources.

"The firm action by the Negri Sembilan state government is aimed at preventing foreigners, in particular, from exploiting our capabilities and domestic resources," he said during the Prime Minister's Question Time (PMQ) in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (June 13).

He was responding to a question from Tan Kar Hing (PH-Gopeng) regarding the Hydrogen Technology and Economic Direction Plan established by the National Science Council meeting recently.

On May 24, Negri Sembilan state authorities uncovered an illegal rare earth mine in a village in Seri Menanti.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun said authorities acted on a tip-off received by the Kuala Pilah District and Land Office on May 16.

Aminuddin said the authorities also seized gunny sacks believed to contain rare earth elements as well as equipment used.

The Mentri Besar warned that action would be taken against wrongdoers as this was a serious offence.

Commenting on the plan, the Prime Minister said that it is a long-term national plan to advance the hydrogen economy through an innovative ecosystem driven by technology, enabling a transition to cleaner energy.

He mentioned that the formulation of the plan aligns with four objectives encompassing the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK12), the National Renewable Energy Policy and Action Plan, the Malaysia New Energy Direction Plan 2022-2035, and the National Energy Policy 2022-2040.

Anwar also noted that there was a lot of potential in the production of green hydrogen energy, which Sarawak was currently leading.

The Prime Minister added the production of green hydrogen energy should be commercialised not only for local consumption but also to be exported overseas.

This is because the income generation was projected to exceed RM12.1bil through the Emissions-Driven Scenario (EDS) model.

"For instance, recently the Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg had flown on an autonomous aircraft powered by green hydrogen energy replacing petrol fuel from Kuching to Langkawi and returning back to Sarawak.

"We have reached at a point that it should be (properly) commercialised, and I agree with the calls to expedite it, so all machinery must support our capabilities not only to produce it for internal in the country but also for export," he said in reply to a supplementary question from Datuk Ahmad Amzad Mohamed Hashim (PN-Terengganu).

Keywords: Green Energy, Rare Earth, Smuggling, Anwar Ibrahim, Parliament,