With Malaysia at the helm of Asean this year, the bloc will step up its push for greater regional energy integration, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

In outlining Malaysia’s vision for Asean’s energy future, he said the country will leverage collective strengths to build a resilient and interconnected energy ecosystem that supports both economic growth and environmental sustainability.

“Malaysia will lead Asean in developing collaborative solutions that balance economic growth with environmental responsibility,” said Fadillah, who is also Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister.

He said this in his keynote address at the Asia Pacific Business Forum (APBF) 2025 organised by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) here yesterday.

Also present was Star Media Group Bhd’s group chief executive officer Chan Seng Fatt, who accepted the Asia Pacific Media Leadership Award for Sustainability on behalf of the newspaper.