SHAH ALAM - Pahang is ramping up its green agenda with a bold commitment to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 45 per cent by 2030 and intensify efforts to protect endangered species, particularly the Malayan tiger.
Investment, Industries, Science, Technology and Innovation state Exco Datuk Mohamad Nizar Najib said the move was part of a broader push to strengthen the state's environmental sustainability ecosystem.
"We need to bring up the numbers again. To support their breeding and prevent them from becoming even more endangered.
"We’ve designated 100,000 hectares in Temerloh as a conservation area,” he said, referring to the Malayan tiger population, during the Politics Meets Progress: Interview with Datuk Nizar Najib podcast recently.
Nizar also said Pahang remains rich in biodiversity, with 57 per cent of its land still covered in rainforest, which includes iconic natural landmarks such as Taman Negara in Lipis - a designated geopark, and Tasik Chini — a recognised Unesco (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) biosphere reserve.
Nizar credited the royal family, particularly the Tunku Mahkota of Pahang, Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, for championing environmental causes.
The royal household, he noted, has been instrumental in gazetting 100,000 acres of land for conservation purposes.
"Our Malayan tiger population has been dwindling. We’re doing everything we can to reverse that,” he added.
On the state’s climate agenda, Nizar said Pahang was aligned with the National Energy Transition Plan and was actively promoting renewable energy initiatives including solar and wind projects.
However, he cautioned that clean energy development must be balanced with land use priorities.
"A solar farm requires land that could otherwise be used for agriculture or industrial development. So every decision comes with trade-offs,” he said.
Currently, he said several companies were exploring wind turbine projects in Pahang.
Thanks to new technology, turbines can now operate at low wind speeds—as low as three metres per second but Nizar stressed that thorough feasibility studies, including six-month wind measurement assessments, were crucial before moving forward.
He also revealed that Pahang was eyeing the potential of its 12 major water bodies for hydroelectric and pumped hydro projects.
In support of the state’s electric vehicle (EV) ambitions, Nizar also shared plans to develop a stronger EV ecosystem.
"We’re trying to attract EV charger companies to set up operations in Pahang,” he said.
One company, he added, has committed to building 50 EV charging stations across the state, backed by a RM200 million budget.
"The key is making investors feel genuinely welcomed.
"We must allocate land for their use, ease the approval process, and ensure smooth facilitation. Like everything else — execution is key," he said.