Teresa Kok: Revive palm biodiesel programme to reduce dependency on imported fuel
New Straits Times (28/03/2026) - KUALA LUMPUR: Putrajaya must revive the nationwide rollout of the B20 palm biodiesel programme to mitigate the impact of surging fuel prices.
Former primary industries minister Teresa Kok said the government's hesitation to invest in construction plans for B20 biodiesel blending depots is the reason why Malaysians are affected by the volatile fuel prices due to the Middle East conflict.
"As retail diesel prices in Peninsular Malaysia hit a staggering RM5.52 per litre this week, implementing B20 biodiesel is no longer just an environmental goal, it is a critical economic tool to provide a more stable, locally-sourced alternative that can shield our economy from the extreme volatility of global crude oil markets," she said in a statement.
Kok called on the Finance Ministry to immediately reexamine and expedite funding and construction plans for B20 biodiesel blending depots in Peninsular Malaysia and in Bintulu, Sabah, which have reportedly stalled.
"Without these depots, we cannot blend the palm oil into our fuel supply at scale," she said.
She added that palm methyl ester (PME) offers a domestic alternative that supports local farmers and Malaysia could significantly lower its fuel import bill and provide a buffer against the current price spike, if it substitutes only 20 per cent of imported diesel with locally produced palm biodiesel.
"The implementation actually began earlier in Langkawi on Jan 1, 2020 and Labuan on Jan 15, 2020 before the official national launch in February. It was originally scheduled to expand to Sarawak in April 2020, Sabah in August 2020, and Peninsular Malaysia by June 2021.
"Today the whole country is suffering from a cost-of-living crisis driven by fuel costs because the government lacks the political will to reduce our dependency on expensive imported fossil fuels," she said.