Public Choice Theory and governance implications for the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE)

Abstract

The Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) embodies Malaysia’s vision for sustainable development and Sarawak’s ambition to achieve developed state status by 2030. This conceptual paper examines SCORE’s implications for energy development, economic growth, environmental sustainability, and Indigenous communities. Using Public Choice Theory (PCT), it explores how self‑interest, lobbying, and rent‑seeking behaviours shape policy outcomes among policymakers and stakeholders. Drawing on observations, media reports, and official publications, the study analyses how individual motivations intersect with public welfare in energy policy formulation and implementation. The analysis also incorporates Critical Race Theory (CRT) and perspectives on the Malaysian Public Service Commission (PSC) to highlight racially embedded institutional features. These frameworks reveal structural tensions between developmental ambitions and equitable governance. As a qualitative study, the paper does not employ statistical datasets or quantitative modelling; instead, it relies on interpretive analysis to uncover institutional dynamics and governance patterns often obscured by numerical approaches. The findings therefore reflect theoretically informed interpretations rather than generalisable conclusions. Nevertheless, this approach provides valuable insights into the governance complexities of large‑scale renewable energy initiatives. Most importantly, PCT, CRT, and PSC demonstrate that SCORE’s initiatives are embedded within racialised institutional logics, reflecting systemic governance and inequality.