Kuala lumpur: The government has not implemented a price control mechanism for public electric vehicle (EV) charging services, allowing charging station operators to set their rates based on commercial considerations. According to BERNAMA News Agency, this strategy by the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) aims to promote private sector investment and encourage healthy competition within the EV charging service sector. MITI believes this will further enhance the expansion of the public EV charging network across the country, as stated in a written reply to the Dewan Negara and published on the parliament's website. The ministry's statement was in response to Senator Robert Lau Hui Yew's inquiry about the number of public EV charging stations and whether these stations' pricing structures are subject to any regulatory framework or government oversight. MITI reported that as of May 31, 2026, there are 6,416 public EV chargers nationwide, comprising 2,143 direct current (DC) fast chargers and 4, 273 alternating current (AC) chargers. MITI highlighted that 96 percent of these chargers, totaling 6,176 units, are located in Peninsular Malaysia, with 208 units in Sarawak and 32 in Sabah. Although the government does not regulate the service rates for EV charging, the development and operation of these facilities must comply with regulatory requirements, technical standards, and safety protocols enforced by MITI, the Energy Commission, and local authorities. The ministry also noted the establishment of two key mechanisms to ensure the coordinated development of the EV ecosystem: the National EV Task Force Meeting and the National EV Steering Committee Meeting. These platforms, chaired by MITI and the Deputy Prime Minister, respectively, aim to address cross-ministerial and inter-agency issues related to regulatory matters, safety, project implementation, infrastructure development, and industry growth. MITI emphasized the government's ongoing commitment to ensuring the safe, systematic, and competitive development of the EV charging network through a comprehensive regulatory framework. This includes continued collaboration with agencies like the Energy Commission and Tenaga Nasional Bhd to develop a regulatory approach for EV charging fees while maintaining a conducive market environment to foster private investment and broaden consumer access to EV charging facilities across the nation.