KUANTAN: Pahang aspires to become the assembly and manufacturing hub for electric vehicles (EVs) in the East Coast, said State Investment, Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation Committee chairman Datuk Mohamad Nizar Najib. He noted a significant increase in EV sales, citing the latest statistics from the Department of Statistics Malaysia, which showed that 10,663 electric cars were sold in the first half of 2024, doubling the 4,409 EVs sold during the same period in 2023.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the surge in EV usage indicates a shift in the automotive market. West Coast states such as Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, and Melaka have become preferred locations for electric vehicle manufacturers due to logistical advantages. Pahang aims to become a similar hub by enhancing its logistics network, including the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) that connects Port Klang and Kuantan Port.

Datuk Mohamad Nizar Najib provided these insights while concluding the debate on the 2025 Pahang Budget at the State Leg
islative Assembly. He also highlighted a collaboration with Perbadanan Setiausaha Kerajaan Pahang to develop 50 EV charging stations across the state, with an estimated investment of RM250 million. Bentong district was selected as the pilot location, with plans to build the first of 12 charging stations there.

In a separate matter, Pahang Consumer Affairs and Human Resources Committee chairman Sim Chon Siang addressed the issue of rice production in the state. He stated that Pahang produces 14,000 metric tonnes of rice annually, which is insufficient for the state’s population. To bridge the gap, the government is importing 45 percent of the required rice, complementing the 55 percent supplied by domestic producers.

Sim Chon Siang also reported on the MADANI Rahmah Sales Programmes in Pahang, which have reached 433 programmes to date, implemented across 156 on-premises locations, 33 off-premises locations, and 244 mobile sites.