PUTRAJAYA, March 18 (Bernama) -- The government will phase out the use of incandescent lights or commonly known as 'round bulbs' to conserve the use of electricity more effectively.

Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui said the implementation to stop the use of such lights would be carried in stages over a three-year period and the sale of such lighting devices would be stopped in 2014.

"The new implementation will enable the use of energy more effectively and wisely as users will be encouraged to use compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) and light emitting diode (LED).

"It is also part of the government's commitment to reduce carbon intensity by about 40 per cent by 2020," he told reporters at his ministry here Thursday.

He added that the implementation of the new policy would save consumers about RM336 million a year and help conserve the country's use of electricity.

Meanwhile, commenting on the protest from residents of Kampung Sungai Terentang in Rawang towards Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) yesterday, Peter said he had requested TNB not to go to that area and demolish the houses concerned for temporarily.

He said the move was for the sake of finding a peaceful solution and win-win situation for all.

"I have exchanged views with Selangor Menteri Besar and also the parties concerned, including TNB. At least temporarily, I have asked TNB to refrain from demolishing those houses concerned," he said.

Hundreds of villagers gathered at the entrance of the village yesterday, to protest the move by TNB to resume work on the Central Area Reinforcement (CAR) project to upgrade power transmission in the Klang Valley.

TNB is working on the CAR project in the area and the Federal Court handed down a judgement in its favour, deciding that TNB had the right to install the power lines.

-- BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR, April 5 (Bernama) -- The Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry is working on the National Energy Efficiency Master Plan and a study has been commissioned to restructure and realign the Malaysian electricity sector.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the National Green Technology Action Plan to be proposed soon would streamline all the plans to create a holistic and sustainable approach to the country's national economic development.

He said this in his keynote address read out by Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui at the Asian Metrocity Summit, themed "Sustainable Development Solutions for Planning and Urbanization of Cities", here Monday.

"We hope that with the creation of all these plans, we will be able to spur the economy by encouraging entrepreneurs to construct green buildings, hydro power plants, manufacture solar panels, wind turbines as well as industrial and building energy efficient equipment," said Muhyiddin.

He said that delivering in each of the areas would require new governance structures and more efficient management.

Muhyiddin said the governance structures needed to deliver holistic solutions, which might mean a new non-departmental approach to the management of cities.

On sustainable development, he said most of the sustainable choices were in the hands of individuals and the future depended on "what we do in the present and we must be the change we seek to see in the world,".

At a news conference later, Chin said the new model of the plan would come out within three years.

He said the study, which was started a few years ago, had looked at various areas including generation, transmission and distribution.

"The cabinet has given the green light, so we are now setting up a project management office that cooperates with an international consultant to do a restructuring that we have never done before.

"So, now we are talking about green energy, green technology and so on... many countries have done it and shown various degree of success," he said.

-- BERNAMA