Malaysia has taken a landmark step towards verified sustainability with the signing of a Memorandum of Collaboration (MoC) between CIDB Holdings Sdn Bhd, the commercial arm of the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Malaysia, and CI Tech Sdn Bhd (CITECH), represented by its chairman, Datuk Mohd Isham Abdul Halim.
The collaboration introduces Malaysia’s first government-endorsed blockchain platform for authenticated carbon credits in the construction sector, marking the world’s first nationwide implementation of a government-led digital carbon verification system.
The platform ensures end-to-end traceability, transparency, and integrity of carbon data throughout the construction value chain.
“This collaboration is a game changer for Malaysia’s construction industry,” said Supian Musa, CEO of CIDB Holdings Sdn Bhd.
“For the first time, every player from the smallest subcontractor to the largest developer can produce verifiable, auditable carbon data that redefines how we measure sustainability in Malaysia.”
At the core of the partnership is CITECH’s Malaysian-developed blockchain platform, designed to make sustainability data verifiable, affordable, and accessible to all participants in the construction industry.
It automatically captures and secures key data – including materials, transport, energy use, and waste management – generating cryptographically authenticated records that can be independently verified.
“Our platform removes the barriers of cost and complexity,” said Govinda Retnavelu, CEO of CITECH. “It empowers every contractor, large or small, to contribute trusted sustainability data recognised globally.”
CIDB Holdings will serve as the national facilitator for adoption, leveraging its extensive network of contractors and training centres to scale up the system nationwide.
The initiative directly supports Malaysia’s 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), which prioritises sustainability, green growth, and digital transformation as central pillars of national economic resilience and competitiveness.
All verified carbon data generated through the platform will align with internationally recognised standards, including Verra and Gold Standard, enabling tradeable carbon credits on both the Bursa Carbon Exchange (BCX) and global voluntary markets.
Analysts estimate that the initiative could unlock between RM350 million and RM600 million in monetisable carbon credits within the next decade.
“Authenticity is the cornerstone of the carbon economy,” said Govinda. “By embedding verification at the point of data creation, our system ensures global trust and compliance from the ground up.”
Pilot projects in flagship housing and infrastructure developments will kick-start the initiative, paving the way for a National Construction Carbon Registry and standardised methodologies for carbon accounting.
Malaysia will become the first Southeast Asian nation to operationalise verified carbon credits in construction under a government-led framework — positioning itself as a regional hub for digital carbon verification and sustainable construction technology.
“This partnership ensures that no one is left behind in Malaysia’s sustainability transition,” added Supian Musa. “Every contractor’s contribution, irrespective of size, will now be verifiable, recognised, and valued.”
