Malaysia’s electric vehicle (EV) ambitions must go beyond increasing vehicle sales, with infrastructure, technology development and skilled talent forming the backbone of a sustainable EV ecosystem, said Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.
Speaking during the launch of Proton’s first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) production line in Tanjong Malim, Johari said EV adoption would require stronger public charging infrastructure, local technological capabilities and a skilled workforce.
He said Malaysia currently has about 1,000 public EV chargers, well below the national target of 30,000 units, making charging infrastructure one of the key challenges in accelerating EV adoption.
Johari said the development of charging facilities would require collaboration between various stakeholders, including Tenaga Nasional Bhd, local authorities and the Ministry of Housing and Local Government.
He added that Malaysia’s approach towards EV development differed from countries such as China, where large investments were made into public charging networks.
“EVs have been given a four-year period to enter our market. No import duties are imposed and no excise duties are charged. The total tax revenue forgone by the country amounts to RM3.3 billion,” he said.
Johari also highlighted Proton’s localisation efforts and development of hybrid technology, which combines internal combustion engines (ICE) with EV systems.
He said the technology could provide consumers with a more practical transition towards electrified vehicles, with the Proton PHEV capable of delivering a driving range of up to 1,100km.
“It will be a vehicle that is affordable for the public. At the same time, I am quite impressed with Proton’s approach in terms of localisation, which is truly something to be proud of,” he said.
Beyond infrastructure, Johari stressed the importance of developing local talent to support the growing EV industry. He noted that nearly all of Proton’s 9,700 employees are Malaysians with qualifications in technical and vocational education and training (TVET), engineering and technical fields.
He said building a complete EV ecosystem would be crucial to ensuring Malaysia remains competitive as the global automotive industry shifts towards electrification.
