VERBATIM TEXT FOR

KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY

YAB DATO’ SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM

PRIME MINISTER

ENERGY TRANSITION CONFERENCE 2026 

 4^th JUNE 2026 (THURSDAY) | 9:30 AM

KUALA LUMPUR CONVENTION CENTRE

 

Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh dan Salam Sejahtera.

 

1. Menghargai dan terima kasih kerana sambutan itu hangat menunjukkan betapa utama dan penting memberikan tumpuan kepada permasalahan dan peralihan tenaga yang menjadi di antara tonggak dasar negara bersama dengan memacu pertumbuhan bersama dengan Artificial Intelligence Semiconductor.

 

2. Jadi, saya ucap juga terima kasih kepada Dato’ Sri Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Mohamad, Timbalan Menteri dan Tan Sri Abdul Razak bin Abdul Majid, serta seluruh keluarga TNB, Timbalan Menteri, tentu yang terutama yang hadir dan CEO baru Shamsul bin Ahmad, harap dapat sempurnakan tugas dengan baik dan cemerlang meneruskan usaha-usaha terdahulu.

 

3. Saudara-saudara, kita menekankan permasalahan yang sangat kritikal dalam memacu pertumbuhan negara. Bila kita lakar keutamaan, kita sebut umpamanya keperluan memacu pertumbuhan dengan beberapa tonggak. Di antara tonggaknya ialah teknologi baharu. Teknologi baharu itu dipecahkan dalam bidang semikonduktor, dan sekarang AI yang melahirkan begitu banyak data centres.

 

4. Sebab itu, dia terkait dengan transisi tenaga. Kita bicara semua ekosistem, supply chain, yang menuntut kita maju, pantas. Semuanya memerlukan tenaga baharu. Dan di sini letaknya peranan yang sangat utama dan kritis, TNB. Sebab itu saya sendiri bersama Dato’ Sri Haji Fadillah bin Haji Yusof, Dato’ Sri Haji Abdul Rahman, memberikan fokus dalam semua mesyuarat-mesyuarat utama kita baik dalam Majlis Tindakan Ekonomi Negara dan Jemaah Menteri tentang peranan dan keperluan menguruskan TNB itu dengan begitu cemerlang dan dalam masa yang sama memberi ruang kepada penerokaan dan inisiatif untuk ikhtiar baru. Sebahagiannya disentuh oleh pengerusi sebentar tadi maksud keperluan tenaga dalam semua bidang.

 

5. Satu hal yang menarik bila kita tekankan hal yang sedemikian, kita lihat umpamanya di ASEAN tahun-tahun kebelakangan, kita tekankan kerana keyakinan kita kepada TNB sebagai tonggaknya, maka kita usulkan supaya ada ASEAN Energy Grid yang mula di Vietnam melempasi dasar laut ke semenanjung, ke Singapura dan peranan TNB amat kritikal bagi menjayakan program ini. Sekali lagi saya ucapkan tahniah kepada seluruh keluarga TNB yang dapat menguruskan dengan terbaik.

 

6. Yang keduanya yang juga utama adalah cadangan yang bersama kita lakukan dengan Kerajaan Negeri Sarawak, iaitu menggunakan kapasiti tenaga yang begitu besar, yang menyediakan laluan dasar laut untuk memenuhi keperluan semenanjung, Singapura, selain daripada Sabah hingga ke Filipina dan Indonesia.

 

7. Jadi, saudara lihat umpamanya TNB ini bukan lagi gergasi dari segi korporat yang besar, tetapi sinerginya itu meluas kepada semua aspek yang lain. Jadi kalau begitu, saudara faham mengapa kita memberikan penekanan dan mengharapkan disiplin kerja, tatakelola, ikhtiar-ikhtiar baru, idea-idea baru, penyelidikan dan kecepatan memberikan keutamaan dari segi keperluan mewujudkan, melahirkan dan menjayakan peralihan tenaga itu.

 

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

 

1. For an appreciation, I started by expressing my profound thanks and gratitude to TNB for displaying that capacity Malaysians can perform reasonably well because they remain focused to some core policies and core values and now let me share some of my concerns, particularly at this challenging times.

 

 

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

 

2. We meet at a time when the world is in the grip of an escalating energy crisis, so the theme should be energy crisis, but you are more optimistic, and I share that consider view you don’t get bogged down by these passive pessimistic views, but looking forward to the challenge of course energy and AI. Thank you.

 

3. Now, stemming from the Strait of Hormuz, the epicentre is nowhere near here, but its tremors rumble across the entire region, straining the supply lines that feed industries and power homes, and triggering energy emergencies in ASEAN neighboring countries and in fact the ramifications throughout the world.

 

4. It is a stark reminder that our world is intrinsically interconnected and in the face of global geopolitical uncertainty, we are all equally exposed to external vulnerabilities.

 

5. This crisis compels us to confront the reality that fossil fuels, which has powered our civilisation since the Industrial Age, is not just finite, but may be less secure and reliable than we once assumed.

 

6. Compounding this problem is the fact that our region is projected to witness an increase in energy demand by more than 60 percent by 2040, no thanks indeed to further urbanisation and industrialisation.

 

7. The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence is likely to accelerate this trajectory further, with data centres and advanced computing infrastructure requiring unprecedented levels of electricity. In fact, I remembered three years ago when I initially looked at the projections. I said to TNB and the ministry that we have to review this because the focus in this region, and particularly in Malaysia, the mushrooming of pedestrian centers and the interest in AI and semiconductors would demand more water, more energy. That’s why I made particular reference to the capacity of TNB leadership for responding to this demand and insistence fast enough that shows the resilience capacity.

 

8. And again, I reiterate my profound thanks to the leadership of TNB and the staff. Now, as countries raise to build digital economies and harness AI-driven growth, the challenge before us is not only to generate more energy, but to ensure that it remains secure, affordable and sustainable. I emphasize the word affordable because whatever impressive results, when submitted to me, I would also say thank you, but I will look at the price to be paid by the consumers. What is it to the common man and woman? How do they fare in this more sophisticated new technology and AI transition?

 

9. So that is again, I think I remember addressing the staff of TNB. I said, we are of course, impressed with the performance, but we would be failing in our duty. We don’t make sure that the success is shared not only by the common staff at all levels, but more so the consumers, particularly the poor and the marginalized.

 

10. Now, back to ASEAN Power Grid which is remarkable feat in terms of collaboration of the ASEAN countries, strong neighbors, clear commitment, and thank you to the support of these countries that we are able to embark this and fast track the implementation of the ASEAN National Grid. Deepening digital integration is not just aspirational, it is essential.

 

11. I’m also pleased to share that the recent ASEAN Summit at Cebu, the Philippines, we did agreed on the operationalisation of the ASEAN Power Grid and again you are entrusted to ensure that we fast track the entire project.

 

12. Encouragingly, we are not starting from scratch. Since 2022, renewable hydropower generated in Lao PDR has been transmitted through Thailand and Malaysia into Singapore, establishing Southeast Asia’s first multilateral cross-border electricity trade. This pioneering initiative has demonstrated not only the technical feasibility of regional energy integration, but also ASEAN’s ability to translate shared ambition into tangible cooperation.

 

13. Yet, such progress also compels us to confront a broader question: how do we accelerate the transition — as countries, economies and societies — towards cleaner and more sustainable sources of energy, while ensuring resilience, affordability and security? Answering this will require not only technological innovation, but also difficult choices on policy, investment and regional cooperation.

 

14. This year’s Energy Transition Conference takes place at this critical juncture. Our energy systems are being reshaped by geopolitical and technological imperatives – with one affecting supply while the other increasing demand. Similarly, this year’s theme of “Energy & AI — the Synergy for Energy Transition” is fitting for the moment we are in, where the confluence of energy and digital intelligence is redefining our world and our economies.

 

15. Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming economies, industries and societies, but this transformation comes with significant energy implications, and I would add, Tan Sri, values, which means the challenge for these experts, the technocrats and the AI expertise that you have and also view the issue of affordability, connectivity and values which has been discussed deliberated, but sometimes we tend to ignore this.

 

16. This should be discussed by researchers at universities. I do not share that view. Anyone who wanting to engage in new technology and including the AI, must look at the of course the requirement in terms of its technological advancement, but at the same time but also look at the implications, impact on what we term here as the MADANI Framework which stresses on the importance of humanity and values. My colleagues ministers are here, who of course appreciate the point I’ve raised because that has been central pillar in our policy framework now.

 

17. But AI, positively built represents opportunities to accelerate energy transition efforts. From improving grid efficiency and forecasting renewable energy generation to optimising industrial energy use, AI has the potential to strengthen energy systems. The challenge, however, again lies in ensuring that the growth of AI does not outpace the sustainability ambitions it is also expected to support.

 

18. In the case of Malaysia, due to our strategic location and competitive investment environment, we have emerged as a key destination in this global digital infrastructure race. We continue to attract major data centre investments, particularly in Johor and the Klang Valley. This raises the stakes – but in this regard, I have full confidence in TNB’s ability to guide our energy transition and to deliver on the promises of AI and energy.

 

19. We will deliver on our promise to the Rakyat, that our transition will be just, our energy will be secure, and that AI will serve this nation’s interests. That is, and must continue to be, the measure of this work.

 

20. In conclusion, I commend TNB for once again convening the Energy Transition Conference to foster discussions, deliberations, and critical dialogue on the energy transition agenda.

 

Terima kasih.

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.