Kuala Lumpur, 30 November-1 December 2023: The Good Regulatory Practice (GRP) Workshop on the Electric Vehicles and Batteries Industry took place at the Alila Hotel in Kuala Lumpur from 30 November to 1 December 2023. A pivotal component of Phase 2 of the Piloting GRP Project, the workshop aimed to deepen awareness and understanding among ASEAN Member States (AMS) about good regulatory practices.

Co-organized by the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) and Malaysia's Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry (MITI); the event sought to elevate GRP in economic initiatives within ASEAN, focusing on core principles, the GRP Handbook, and regulatory impact analysis (RIA).

More than 15 participants from Malaysia's 11 line ministries actively engaged in the workshop. Regulators and policy officers from the Ministries of Natural Resources, Environment, Climate Change, Works, Local Government Development, Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation, and others contributed to the dynamic discussions.

The workshop embraced three primary objectives. Firstly, it introduced and created awareness among AMS about GRP and ongoing ASEAN initiatives, emphasising core principles, the GRP Handbook, and RIA. Secondly, it socialised and secured the buy-in for the piloting of good regulatory practices in the electric vehicles and batteries industry, particularly for targeting regulators in AMS. Lastly, it strategically laid the foundational framework for the Electric Vehicles and Batteries Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS).

Dr Intan Murnira Ramli, ERIA’s Senior Policy Fellow, opened the workshop, setting the tone for two days of collaborative and insightful discussions. The workshop kicked off with a sharing session on the electric vehicles task force and its initiatives, led by Nuraizah Harun, Manager of the National Competitiveness Section at the Malaysia Productivity Corporation.

The workshop was then led by ERIA experts Mohamad Izahar bin Mohamad Izham and Muhamad Hilmy bin Mohd Yazid, guiding participants step-by-step, through important topics such as the progress of the pilot project, core principles, the GRP Handbook, and the seven elements of RIA.

The workshop progressed well throughout the two days, featuring detailed discussions on the EV task force, progress updates on the pilot project, and exploration of GRP elements. Day 1 focused on critical areas such as the problem statement and objectives, while day 2 delved into options, impact analysis, consultation, conclusions and recommendations, and strategy for implementation.

The workshop went well, with all the necessary regulators able to discuss every single aspect in addressing the issues.  It concluded with a summary of work related to the EV and battery industry, outlining the way forward plus closing remarks, showcasing Malaysia's commitment to fostering regulatory excellence within ASEAN, particularly in the context of the rapidly evolving electric vehicles and battery industry.