Malaysia

Malaysia’s first geothermal power plant, to be built at Apas Kiri in Sabah’s Tawau district, is expected to have the capability of generating more than 100-MW of electricity, once all its development phases are completed.

Consumers in four Asian countries have been identified as being amongst the world’s most involved in societal issues by a new survey carried out by global public relations firm Edelman. China, India, Indonesia and Malaysia are joined by Brazil and the United Arab Emirates in a group dubbed by Edelman as “Purpose Bull Markets” while Japan is among the “Purpose Bear Markets” of Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. Edelman says its Goodpurpose study is designed to explore consumer attitudes around social purpose, including their commitment to specific societal issues and their expectations of brands and corporations.

Australian rare earths miner Lynas has launched legal action against the most vitriolic opponents of its proposed plant in Malaysia following fierce criticism that it is unsafe, according to AFP.

A Malaysian court has dismissed a bid to stop a rare earths plant run by Australian miner Lynas from going online over fears it will harm the environment by producing radioactive pollution, according to a report by AFP.

Japan’s Panasonic Corporation yesterday announced it will set up an engineering company for its energy saving, purification and recycling businesses for air, water and soil in Malaysia as part of the company's drive to globally expand its environmental engineering business.