Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia to put over 1,000 electric buses on the road by 2030

Malaysia has kicked off a major initiative to modernize its public transport system by replacing diesel buses with electric vehicles. The government’s strategic plan targets the deployment of 1,100 electric buses by 2030, starting with an initial pilot phase to test operations. This move is designed to drastically reduce urban air pollution and noise while boosting the local green technology sector. By prioritizing zero-emission public transit, Malaysia is taking a decisive step toward its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.

Amazon River Rainforest

Malaysian court shuts down hydroelectric dam project on Indigenous land

A Malaysian court ruled this week that hydropower companies building a dam on land belonging to the Indigenous Semai people of Malaysia’s Perak state had failed to secure proper consent and must halt operations immediately. The court also ruled that the state and federal governments, and the federal agency tasked with overseeing Indigenous affairs, had failed in their duty to protect Indigenous land from encroachment. Activists expressed relief and elation at the verdict, which marks a major milestone for land rights for Malaysia’s Indigenous peoples, known collectively as Orang Asal.
The verdict can still be appealed.