Brunei Darussalam does not need to take a leading role in achieving high electric vehicle (EV) ownership, according to Minister at the prime minister's office and minister of finance and Economy II, Datuk Seri Setia Awang Mohd Amin Liew Abdullah. This statement was made during the 21st Legislative Council (LegCo) session on 10th March.

The minister was responding to a question raised by LegCo member Chong Chin Yee regarding the Brunei Darussalam National Climate Change Policy (BNCCP), which targets 60% of new vehicle sales to be electric by 2035.

He acknowledged that, although the current results are not encouraging, the primary objective of the BNCCP strategy is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. He also highlighted a noticeable reduction in internal combustion engine vehicle registrations.

The minister further explained that EV adoption remains limited due to Brunei's relatively low fuel prices, which do not offer substantial cost-saving incentives for consumers.

He emphasised the importance of studying the experiences of other countries before implementing large-scale EV strategies. "We must also be reminded that, outside the country, EVs face many challenges. We need to take time to study other countries and learn from their experiences so that we can implement EV strategies effectively when the time comes," he stated.