TANJUNG MALIM: Before the Powering The Future (PTF) 4.0 school activation programme, 12-year-old Wan Aydin Wan Ruslan never realised the importance of switching off electrical appliances when not in use.
Now, after taking part in the programme organised by Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB), in collaboration with Star Media Group Bhd (SMG), he said he will bring this knowledge home to educate family members.
“When I get home, the first thing I am going to do is share what I’ve learned with my eight-year-old sister. Usually, she forgets to switch off the fan or light when she leaves her room, which is very wasteful,” he said.
Wan Aydin was among 83 students from SK Tanjong Malim who took part in the Perak leg of PTF 4.0, the programme’s final state stop this year, held on Aug 3.
Now in its fourth year, PTF is an energy literacy initiative under the Malaysia Energy Literacy Programme (MELP) – a national agenda originally initiated by TNB in 2020.
Since its debut in 2023, it has grown from a single-region pilot into a nationwide initiative, reaching over 8,000 students across 12 states.
PTF aims to drive positive behavioural changes around energy by cultivating an energy-literate society that embraces energy efficiency, responsible energy consumption, electrical safety and the adoption of green energy solutions.
Through the programme, students take part in gamified, hands-on activities built around real-world scenarios, designed to make abstract energy concepts easier to understand while sparking an interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
TNB general manager (retail and stakeholders-Perak) Mohd Suhairi Mohammad Shah, who officiated the state launch, emphasised that achieving a sustainable energy future relies just as heavily on the human element as it does on hardware.
“We believe that energy transition is not only about technology, infrastructure and investment – what’s more important is the people,” he said.
“This is why we go back to schools. As Malaysia progresses toward lower carbon emissions and a more sustainable energy future, the younger generation must understand how energy is produced, how it should be used responsibly and how their daily choices contribute towards the nation’s sustainability goals.
“By making these concepts more relatable through simple actions that students can make in their daily lives, we can make energy conservation more actionable by turning knowledge into everyday behaviour and shared responsibility.”
Meanwhile, SK Tanjong Malim principal Abu Yazid Jaafar said he believes the initiative is highly beneficial in broadening students’ knowledge of energy conservation and that it effectively complements what is taught in classrooms.
“The topics covered represent essential lessons and skills that students need to be equipped with for the future,” he said.
“By instilling these concepts and values, the students gain valuable knowledge that is useful for both their own lives and the lives of those around them.
“This way, they can act as agents of change, sharing what they’ve learned with their families, friends and neighbours.”
He added that he hopes these teachings could be shared with the greater community, especially with other students and teachers at his school.
“We envision the participating students eventually serving as energy ambassadors who can explain these concepts to the entire school community.”
With Perak covered, PTF 4.0 completes its fourth-year rollout across Putrajaya, Selangor, Melaka and Perak, bringing hands-on lessons on energy efficiency, renewable sources and everyday electrical safety to 30 schools, impacting 2,431 students this year alone.
