FREE MALAYSIA TODAY. 25TH APRIL: Deputy state minister Abdul Rahman Junaidi encourages home owners and developers to equip new houses with solar panels.
The Sarawak government is considering making it compulsory for houses in new residential areas to be fitted with solar panels, says its deputy utility and telecommunication minister, Abdul Rahman Junaidi.
Abdul Rahman said the matter has been discussed with the Sarawak Housing and Real Estate Developers Association (Sheda).
“This idea was first presented by Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg when he was the state housing minister (about seven to eight years ago),” he said.
He said amendments to housing laws may be made in the future to require solar panels in new homes, particularly in urban areas.
Citing Sarawak Energy Berhad’s (SEB) recent involvement in feed-in tariff (FIT) programmes implemented in Putrajaya and the Klang Valley, the deputy minister encouraged home owners and developers to equip new houses with solar panels.
“This (practice) has been mostly implemented in Putrajaya and in Kuala Lumpur. Sarawak has already started this, but it is quite limited.
“That is why Abang Johari recently suggested that those building new houses or property developers building residential areas should include solar panels,” he said.
On Sunday, Abang Johari said Sarawak will soon adopt the integration of solar energy into housing projects, in line with the state government’s commitment towards green energy.
With more details to be announced early in May, the premier said he has instructed SEB to look into the state having solar-powered smart homes.