Gentari puts safety at the heart of its under construction LSS5 facility in Kedah's Kuala Muda. GLOBAL clean energy outfit Gentari Sdn Bhd, has re-affirmed the company's commitment to safety, execution discipline and responsible project delivery as construction progresses on its 150MWp Large-Scale Solar 5 (LSS5) project in Kuala Muda, Kedah. This follows a recent site safety visit led by its senior leaders to Gentari LSS Lima Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gentari Renewables Sdn Bhd, which is under construction following a successful bid under Malaysia's fifth LSS programme in December 2024. Malaysia Market Analysis The project reinforces Gentari's position as a utility-scale renewables player supporting national efforts to expand renewable energy capacity and accelerate progress under Malaysia's National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR). With a total national target capacity of approximately 2,000MWac, LSS5 represents a key implementation pillar under the NETR which targets Malaysia to achieve 70% renewable energy generation capacity by 2050. Once completed, Gentari's large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) facility is expected to supply up to 150MWp of clean electricity to Malaysia's power system under a 21-year power purchase agreement (PPA). "This transition from planning into execution reflects Gentari's commitment to deliver utility-scale renewable energy infrastructure that supports Malaysia's long-term energy transition," enthused Gentari's group chief operating officer (COO) and Malaysia country head Shah Yang Razalli. Reducing Malaysia's fossil fuels reliance "This project aims to build resilient, future-ready energy assets that strengthen national energy security and accelerate decarbonisation under the NETR." As Gentari moves into the construction phase, its priority is to ensure the project is delivered "on-time, on-scope and on-budget" to the highest technical, environmental and safety standards, according to Shah Yang. "This'll further cement our position as a trusted long-term clean energy partner, thus translating national ambition into tangible impact for industries, businesses and the wider energy ecosystem," he added. Once operational, the project is expected to contribute towards reducing Malaysia's reliance on fossil fuels, lowering carbon emissions by an estimated 166,766 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO[2]e) per year and enhancing long-term energy resilience. It is also anticipated to generate positive local economic impact through job creation during the construction phase as well as for longer-term operations and maintenance activities. All in all, LSS5 supports the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) by delivering reliable clean energy that attracts higher-value investments and drives sustainable regional growth. The project aligns with the 13th Malaysia Plan (2026-2030) and the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 by enabling advanced manufacturing, technology-driven industries and resilient green infrastructure. Malaysia Market Analysis In doing so, LSS5 advances Malaysia's energy transition while strengthening local communities and the wider regional economy. - May 22, 2026

New jomchargesubscription plans: are they actually worth it? For EV owners in Malaysia, public charging is becoming more competitive. JomCharge, Gentari, ChargeSini, ChargEV, and other CPOs are no longer only competing on charger locations and charging speed. They are now competing on subscription pricing. The latest JomCharge package introduces a very clear proposition: Pay a monthly fee, get a fixed discount every time you charge. At first glance, it looks attractive. But like every EV charging subscription, the real question is not: "Is the discount big?" The real question is: "Do you charge enough on that network to recover the subscription fee?" That is where the real answer becomes clearer. 1. What JomCharge Is Offering From the launch information, JomCharge now appears to offer two subscription levels: Elite at RM9.90/month with 10% discount. Platinum at RM39.90/month with 25% discount. Both are positioned with: No discount cap Nationwide access AC and DC charger coverage Cancel-anytime flexibility Discount applied directly in the app The existing JomCharge Elite page confirms that Elite gives 10% off at authorised JomCharge Elite chargers, with no cap, RM9.90/month after the free first month, and monthly auto-renewal. It also states that the discount applies only to authorised chargers co-owned/operated by EV Connection within the JomCharge network, excluding roaming partners and other operators. That exclusion matters. Before subscribing, EV owners should not only ask: "How many chargers are in the network?" They should ask: "Are the chargers I actually use eligible for the discount?" 2. The Break-Even Point For Elite: RM9.90/month divided by 10% discount = RM99/month So if you spend more than RM99/month on eligible JomCharge chargers, Elite starts saving you money. For Platinum: RM39.90/month divided by 25% discount = RM159.60/month So if you spend more than RM159.60/month on eligible JomCharge chargers, Platinum starts saving you money. But when comparing Elite against Platinum, the crossover point is RM200/month. Below RM200/month, Elite is better. At RM200/month, both are equal. Above RM200/month, Platinum is better. This makes the plan structure quite logical. Elite is for occasional but regular users. Platinum is for people who really use JomCharge frequently. 3. How It Compares with the Previous ChargEV Plan ChargEV previously offered a Yearly Essential Plan at RM788/year, giving 50% off all ChargEV AC and DC chargers, plus RM50 free charging credits monthly. That worked out to RM600 in free credits over 12 months. This was a very strong plan on paper. Annual fee: RM788 Free credits: RM600/year Effective net cost: RM188/year, if you fully used the monthly credits Discount: 50% For frequent ChargEV users, that plan was very aggressive. Compared with that, JomCharge Platinum is less aggressive in discount percentage because it offers 25%, not 50%. However, JomCharge has two advantages: Monthly commitment instead of annual commitment No discount cap, based on the slide information This matters because many EV owners do not want to lock themselves into one CPO for a full year. ChargEV's previous plan was stronger for high-confidence ChargEV users. JomCharge's new plan is more flexible for users who want monthly control. 4. How It Compares with Gentari Gentari previously had the Power Pass plan, which offered 50% off EV charging for RM899/year, but Gentari's official terms now state that Power Pass was discontinued effective 31 January 2026, while existing subscribers can continue using their benefits until expiry. Gentari has since introduced newer annual plans: Go Starter: RM350/year, 15% discount Go Plus: RM699/year, 30% discount SoyaCincau reported that Go Starter comes with a RM1,000 annual discount cap, while Go Plus comes with a RM2,000 annual cap. Gentari's own T&C also confirms that the subscription is subject to a utilisation cap policy, though users should check the latest in-app details before subscribing because plan limits may vary by version or update. Compared with Gentari: Gentari Go Plus gives a higher discount than JomCharge Platinum: 30% vs 25%. But JomCharge Platinum has two practical advantages: It is monthly, not annual. It appears to have no discount cap. So the better choice depends on usage pattern. If you mainly use Gentari, Gentari Go Plus may be better. If you mainly use JomCharge, JomCharge Platinum may be better. If you use both networks, you need to calculate based on where you actually charge most often. 5. How It Compares with ChargeSini ChargeSini's subscription plans are different because they separate public chargers and condominium chargers. According to SoyaCincau, ChargeSini offers: Charge Plus: RM19.90/month 10% discount at condominium chargers 15% discount at public chargers Charge Pro: RM29.90/month 12% discount at condominium chargers 20% discount at public chargers Charge Max: RM360/year Same discount rate as Charge Pro The same report states that ChargeSini applies discount caps of RM50 to RM70 per month for Charge Plus and Charge Pro, and RM900 per year for Charge Max. ChargeSini's own article also states that subscribers can receive 10-20% charging discounts, free idle time, battery health check benefits, and nationwide access across ChargeSini stations. Compared with ChargeSini, JomCharge Platinum looks more attractive for pure charging savings: ChargeSini's advantage is not only charging discount. It includes other lifestyle and convenience benefits such as idle fee protection and battery health check access. But from a pure "discount on charging bill" perspective, JomCharge Platinum is cleaner: Higher discount than ChargeSini Pro No cap shown Monthly cancellation flexibility However, ChargeSini may still be better if your regular charging location is inside a condo or a ChargeSini-managed site. Again, location matters more than headline discount. JomCharge Elite is worth considering if: You spend at least RM100/month on eligible JomCharge chargers You occasionally DC charge You use JomCharge often enough but not heavily You want low commitment You are not sure whether you will use the network every month Elite is the low-risk option. At RM9.90/month, the downside is small. But the upside is also modest. For many EV owners, this is the "safe trial" plan. JomCharge Platinum is worth considering if: You spend more than RM200/month on eligible JomCharge chargers You frequently use DC fast charging You travel interstate often You do not have reliable home charging You regularly charge at malls, highway locations, or public chargers Your usual JomCharge locations are included in the discount network Platinum is not for everyone. But for the right user, it can save a meaningful amount. If your monthly JomCharge bill is around RM500, Platinum can save about RM85 net per month. If your monthly JomCharge bill is around RM1,000, Platinum can save about RM210 net per month. That is significant. 8. Who Should Not Subscribe? You probably should not subscribe if: You mostly charge at home You only use public charging occasionally You use multiple CPOs randomly Your regular JomCharge chargers are not eligible Your monthly JomCharge spend is below RM100 You only DC charge during emergencies This is where many EV owners make the mistake. They see a discount and subscribe first. But EV charging subscriptions only work when usage is predictable. If your charging pattern is random, the subscription may quietly become another unused monthly cost. 9. Its View: The New JomCharge Plan Is Well-Positioned The new JomCharge structure is actually sensible. Elite captures the casual regular user. Platinum captures the heavy user. Monthly billing reduces commitment risk. No cap makes the plan easy to understand. Compared with Gentari, JomCharge appears more flexible. Compared with ChargeSini, JomCharge appears cleaner for pure charging discount. Compared with the previous ChargEV plan, JomCharge is less aggressive but easier to enter and exit. The key weakness is eligibility. Users must confirm whether their regular chargers are included. A 25% discount is only useful if it applies at the chargers you actually use. Final Thoughts EV charging subscriptions are not automatically good or bad. They are usage tools. The correct way to decide is simple: Check your last 2-3 months of public charging spend. Separate it by CPO: JomCharge, Gentari, ChargeSini, ChargEV, others. See which network you actually use most. Then calculate the break-even point. For JomCharge: Below RM100/month: skip subscription RM100-RM200/month: Elite makes sense Above RM200/month: Platinum makes sense Heavy DC users: Platinum is likely worth serious consideration But for EV owners with home charging, public charging subscriptions should remain a supplement, not the foundation of EV ownership. The best charging strategy is still the one that matches your actual lifestyle: Home charging when possible Public charging when necessary Subscription only when the numbers make sense This same principle applies to charger installation and EV ownership in general: do not chase the highest number or the biggest headline. Look at your real usage, your system limits, and the long-term practicality. EV charging infrastructure should be designed and used safely, and EVCS installations must still follow the relevant Suruhanjaya Tenaga requirements for proper EV charging systems. Let its obsession with quality protect your safety. Because when it comes to EV charging and electrical systems, there's no room for compromise. Need your EV charger or electrical setup professionally inspected? WhatsApp Us: https://wa.me/60125954786 Alvin wong. Director and CEO Innovative Green Power Sdn. Bhd. * 17/05/2026 * 10/05/2026 * 05/05/2026