The fondness for automobiles among Malaysians is noticeable. Despite having a fairly robust public transport system, the country’s car ownership rate in Asia is notably high. The question then arises – is there a willingness to diminish reliance on cars?
Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, envisions urban centers in Malaysia that are not geared towards cars but rather emphasize transit-oriented developments (TOD). He points out the effectiveness of public transportation in the Klang Valley and highlights the potential for Malaysia to steer away from car-centric urban infrastructure.
The Member of Parliament for Setiawangsa cited the government’s efforts to facilitate access to public transport as one of the strategic steps toward achieving this shift. He illustrated how local councils are taking initiative to enhance connectivity from origin to destination.
Mayor Sadiq Khan’s emphasis on the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and the urban development pattern alteration in London serves as a model for transformation. In Seoul, numerous roads have been repurposed into parks for urban residents. Nik Nazmi suggests that Malaysia, too, can undergo such changes, albeit necessitating substantial momentum and policy adjustments by governing bodies,” reported Astro Awani.
He remarked, “By cultivating awareness within communities, we can drive change in how we plan green sustainable zones.” Such zones are envisioned to mitigate the urban heat island effect, while also acting as filters for pollutants and guardians of water sources.
In a previous statement, Nik Nazmi emphasized the government’s commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050, increasing the renewable energy capacity in power generation from 25% to 70%. These aspirations are encapsulated in Malaysia’s National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), which also outlines a vision where Electric Vehicles (EVs) constitute 80% of Total Industry Volume (TIV) by 2050.
He further added, “To attain this objective, Malaysia must delicately balance the energy trilemma to ensure sustainability, safety, and affordability in energy provisions for the future.”
If you are considering selling your vehicle, do explore options with Carro.
