MALAYSIA ENACTING NATIONAL ENERGY POLICY

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 12 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is enacting a national energy
policy to ensure that energy security for the country is guaranteed, Tenaga
Nasional Bhd's chairman Leo Moggie said Wednesday.

He said the country's utility giant was currently listening to views from
global experts and other stakeholders who could help the government to adopt
policies and strategies.

"Energy security is a global issue that represents an urgent challenge to
Malaysia as it is inter-linked with economic and national security," he said in
his opening address at the International Forum on Energy Security here.

Moggie said there was a need for a comprehensive energy security roadmap
with a clear policy framework and compatible electricity sector regulations.

"Options available to increase energy security take significant time and
costs to plan and develop. Most will require specific policy and regulatory
support," he said.

According to Moggie, it is crucial to sustain electricty supply reliability
by ensuring sustainable fuel supply at power generating plants.

"We foresee that traditional fossil-fuel based generation will experience
more and more limitations due to depleting resources, bottlenecks in the supply
chain and as environmental challenges become more prominent," he said.

Moggie said Malaysia was not alone in facing such a rapidly changing energy
security challenge.

"In Malaysia, providing adequate and secure supply of energy to meet
increasing demand is a key priority and a major challenge," he said.

A strategic and prudent energy policy is therefore necessary and should
include security of crucial energy sources capable of withstanding disruptive
events and risks, Moggie said.

"There should also be proper management and transition to other fuel
sources and energy source diversity as well as timely investment in energy
infrastructure capacity and networks," he said.

Other factors to look at are affordability of energy supply, promotion of
the efficient use of energy to maximise the value of the energy consumed, and
sustainable energy in terms of the stewardship of the environment.
-- BERNAMA