Climate Policy Engagement Analysis
Climate Policy Engagement Overview: Malaysian Gas Association (MGA) has very limited top-line messaging on climate change, and appears to focus its advocacy on supporting a long-term role for fossil gas in the energy mix.
Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: MGA appears to have very limited top-line communications on climate change. In a press release in February 2023, MGA supported a zero-emissions economy by 2050. However, in a press release in December 2021, the organization appeared to emphasize the threat of energy-poverty in order to advocate a slower paced transition. MGA’s position on the Paris Agreement was supportive with exceptions in a press release in March 2019, the organization appeared to support meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement but advocated the use of fossil gas to do so.
Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: MGA states that it engages with policymakers and stakeholders on policy, however, InfluenceMap has been able to find explicit evidence of engagement with specific climate-related policies.
Positioning on Energy Transition: MGA advocates for a long-term role for fossil gas in the Malaysian energy mix. For example, in its 2022 Annual Report published in June 2023, MGA stated that 'natural gas remains critical in securing energy for the nation today and powering Malaysia’s energy transition tomorrow.' The president of MGA, Abdul Aziz Othman, also advocated the continued use of fossil gas on the basis it would provide baseload power for energy security and to back-up renewables, without referencing the need to abate emissions in the companies Q3&4 update in December 2023. The president also advocated for the development of CCS for fossil fuel use without referencing the need to transition away from fossil fuels in a press release in November 2023. The organization also stated support for the development of hydrogen from fossil gas on multiple occasions, including a Q3 Update in October 2021 and a Press Release in July 2023. The organization did not specify a specific intended use case or reference the need to transition away from fossil fuels.