General : Clear Cross-Border Rules Key To Malaysia’s Regional Power Ambitions - Analyst

Malaysia's aspirations to broaden regional electricity trade demand more defined protocols for cross-border approvals, funding, and safeguarding infrastructure, according to Jomari Jesus Tan, a political science faculty member at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila. Asean must establish a unified framework for the creation and upkeep of subsea cables, along with mutual obligations and safeguards for investments, Tan emphasized.

He stressed that demonstrating respect for national sovereignty must go hand-in-hand with enhanced regulatory certainty to facilitate countries in pursuing cross-border connections. Tan argued that a legally binding agreement covering development, maintenance, shared rights, and financing is essential for realizing maritime disputes.

He made these remarks in an interview with Bernama on the obstacles to regional energy connectivity ahead of the 49th Asean Summit and Related Summits in Manila this month. The Asean Centre for Energy has already identified operationalizing the Enhanced Asean Power Grid MoU and formulating legal and regulatory guidelines for a regional submarine power cable framework as top Asean energy priorities for 2026.

Tan highlighted that maritime disputes and overlapping territorial claims could complicate cable routes, while external powers' competition could lead to increased uncertainty over financing and infrastructure security. He underscored the necessity of clear security guarantees and liability provisions to clarify the responsibilities of participating countries and provide investors with greater assurance.

Tan warned that without stronger regional collaboration, countries may end up pursuing individual infrastructure investments without proper arrangements to interconnect them or share expenses. He urged Asean member states to adopt a pragmatic approach towards collective agreements that can boost the Southeast Asian economy, recognizing the importance of collective action as a regional bloc while remaining cautious of external states heightening tensions in disputed waters.