SHAH ALAM, June 19 — Bukit Gasing state assemblyman Rajiv Rishyakaran has called on the government to implement measures to reduce daily oil consumption to levels that can be met by domestic production, thereby reducing reliance on imported supplies.
He said that Malaysia is now a net oil-deficit nation, with domestic demand of up to 700,000 barrels per day, exceeding the daily crude oil production of 535,000 barrels.
“We have become a country that is dependent on oil imports; we are no longer a country with an oil surplus like we used to be. Perhaps in the past, each family had one car, but now each individual has one.
“We can see traffic congestion and parking issues in residential areas as proof that the number of vehicles has increased significantly,” Rajiv said when debating the Selangor Resilience Enhancement Package Phase Two during the State Legislative Assembly special sitting today.
He added that Malaysia’s growing reliance on fuel imports leaves the country vulnerable to global price shocks and supply chain disruptions, citing the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz as an example of how geopolitical tensions could threaten energy security.
The Pakatan Harapan lawmaker also proposed a comprehensive overhaul of Selangor’s transport strategy, focusing on core pillars such as expanding electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure and demand-responsive transit (DRT) services.
Rajiv urged the state government to prioritise installing more EV charging stations in public parking spaces to support the growing affordability and adoption of EVs.
“If we want to multiply the number of EVs among the public, if we want EV sales to make up 50 per cent of all new car sales, we must have sufficient infrastructure so that charging becomes convenient,” he said, suggesting that all workplaces be equipped with charging facilities.
Similarly, Rajiv emphasised the importance of DRT services in improving public transport accessibility, noting that many residential areas are low-density and therefore difficult to serve efficiently via traditional bus or rail networks.
“We want to reduce the number of cars on the road commuting to work during the early morning and evening peak hours. We need more public transport infrastructure and usage.
“DRT is important for us to provide last-mile coverage for terrace housing areas, connecting them to nearby commercial hubs as well as MRT, LRT, and KTM stations,” he said.
