Perak Assembly abuzz with electric vehicles

IPOH, Dec 13 -- The use of electric vehicles (EV) on the resort island of Pulau Pangkor and tourist hotspots in Perak was among the ‘electrifying’ topics discussed at the Perak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) today.

During the question-and-answer session, Loh Sze Yee (DAP-Jalong) wanted to know the government's plan in preserving the environment, especially in reducing carbon emissions as well as the status on the use of electric vehicles.

Elaborating further, Perak Health, Science, Environment and Green Technology Committee chairman Mohd Akmal Kamarudin said the replacement of the existing public transport like taxis, to electric vehicles in Pulau Pangkor was the mainstay of the state government's short-term plan.

"This move is in line with the direction of development in Pulau Pangkor to ensure that the goal of a Smart Island can be achieved by 2030.

This is also to ensure the target of using carbon-free vehicles can be implemented in Perak," he said.

According to Mohd Akmal, the Taiping Municipal Council (MPT) is also in the final stages of implementing the use of electric buses on the Taiping Heritage Trail which will be undertaken by the council itself, with the aim of it being a catalyst for local heritage tourism.

He explained that a ‘middle-sized EV-bus’ which is fully electric has been donated by the Government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) where this initiative involves the cooperation of several local companies as well as from Japan.

“The infrastructure of the heritage trail route has been completed, including the construction of a bus stop and a bus charging centre.

The council expects to implement the Electric Bus operation on the Heritage Trail in early 2022,” he said.

Meanwhile, Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu (Bersatu-Chenderiang) said the state government's efforts to develop the infrastructure of Pulau Pangkor must also take into account the important aspect of transportation for the community and tourists.

"I propose that a suitable procurement method for electric vehicles to replace taxis in Pulau Pangkor can be provided to realise this effort," he said during the debate on Supply Bill 2022 and the 2022 Development Fund proposal today.

He said this was because the state government in June 2020 had approved an allocation of RM10 million to convert existing taxis in Pulau Pangkor to electric vehicles.

Reportedly, the state government through the Pangkor Duty Free Island Strategic Implementation Plan meeting in 2020 has agreed to complete Pangkor Island as a carbon-free island by bringing in 100 electric taxis besides providing about 100 electric motorcycles for visitors to rent but so far no good news awaits the industry.

-- BERNAMA