PETALING JAYA ( WNAM MONITORING): Economic development must not come at the expense of the environment, with businesses and regulators urged to weigh the impact of their operations alongside profits, said Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil.
He said sustainability must be an integral part of development as the communications and multimedia sector continues to expand, particularly given the substantial energy demands of its infrastructure.
“This sector is a driver of national development and the economy. At the same time, there is no use talking about development and progress if there is no aspect of sustainability and we do not think about our planet.”
He added that the scale of the sector’s energy consumption was significant, citing the estimated 60,000 telecommunications towers nationwide as an example.
“Can you imagine the amount of energy consumed to make sure 60,000 telecommunication towers remain active and online?”
Fahmi was speaking at the launch event of Lestari: Sustainability Framework and Roadmap 2030, a strategic framework by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to guide sustainability efforts across the telecommunications, broadcasting, and postal and courier sectors.
He added that greater collaboration between the government and industry was needed, including possible incentives to accelerate the shift towards cleaner energy in line with the National Energy Transition Roadmap.
He also highlighted the energy demands of broadcasting and telecommunications infrastructure.
Fahmi said recording equipment in studios generates significant heat and requires substantial energy to maintain controlled temperatures, while telecommunications towers in rural areas without access to the electricity grid may rely on diesel generators.
