KUCHING: Putrajaya has agreed to give Sarawak the Approved Permit (AP) to import 1,000 units EV (electric) and hydrogen-powered vehicles.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said Sarawak is the first state in the country to receive such a permit.
He said the federal government has also agreed to offer tax exemption for EVs and hydrogen-powered vehicles.
Abang Johari said he was informed about the decision after the Unity Government held its Cabinet meeting in Kuching last Saturday.
“This is what happened two days ago (after the meeting)… the federal government agreed to issue the AP to Sarawak – for us to import 1,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles; which will be exempted from tax.
“This will enable us to further promote these vehicles,” he said when officiating at the First Gas Readiness Ceremony of the Bintulu Additional Gas Sales Facility 2 (BAGSF-2) in Tanjung Kidurong, Bintulu today (Sept 18).
Abang Johari had also briefed the federal Cabinet regarding the direction of the Sarawak government, especially in the energy sector.
Sarawak, he said, would continue to explore new technology to produce energy not only for Sarawak but to supply to neighbouring countries as well.
“It is definitely our intention to become the ASEAN energy hub. We have already positioned ourselves in Indonesia; exporting energy to Kalimantan and investing in Indonesia’s largest hydroelectric dam in North Kalimantan. We are also ready to supply energy to Brunei and so on. “In addition, we are going to develop a cascading dam, which can generate up to 20,000MW of electricity – most importantly this (dam) is environmentally-friendly,” he added.
