A Comparative Study of Policies Affecting the Consumption of Fossil Fuels Between Malaysia and Thailand

Abstract

The reliance on fossil fuel is a focal issue among most developing economies because it has brought about repercussions of environmental sustainability, energy security and resilience of the economy in the long run. Malaysia, being a producer and exporter of fossil fuels, still depends on energy sources that are carbonintensive, although the policy has been making efforts to diversify the energy mix. The paper takes the doctrinal and comparative approach to policy analysis to analyse the impacts of government energy policies on the fossil fuel dependence in Malaysia and to use Thailand as a comparative country since both are of similar regional, economic and developmental characteristics. Based on the primary legal and policy documents used as well as secondary sources, the paper evaluates the development of the energy diversification policies, renewable energy policies and policy frameworks in the two nations. The results show that Malaysia and Thailand are both still largely reliant on fossil fuels. However, Thailand has been more organised in integrating its policies to use alternative energy sources by coordinating long-term planning tools. The article asserts that policy coherence and institutional commitment are important factors that influence the outcomes of the energy transition process in a country. It ends by noting that greater policy alignment and implementation systems were required to curtail the reliance on fossil fuels and facilitate sustainable energy production in Malaysia.