SHAH ALAM, Sept 15 — Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari today said unpredictable climate change must be addressed over the next 31 years to mitigate natural disasters like the massive flood in Nepal and volcanic eruptions in Indonesia, which impact the economy and investments.
“There must be collective awareness about climate change and it must be addressed together. We must go back to the basics — sufficient water, controlled pollution. This should be the main effort, from sorting waste at home and protecting natural resources.
“We must strengthen nature along with economic development because the economy doesn’t just depend on politics, but also the environment. The way we defend unity, that’s also how we should care for the environment,” he said at a town hall held in conjunction with Malaysia Day at Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Polytechnic here today.
Besides environmental responsibilities, Amirudin said four more considerations must be prioritised, including developing a confident and empathetic people that care for the underserved and the uncertain, which is the generation left behind due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said Malaysia’s position at the world stage and the Asian Century must be given attention so the country’s tradition as a connecting platform can be maintained as it approaches its 100th year.
“To be in the eye of the world, we must dare to change. The people need to change to be confident in their own culture. Asia must stand out more and Malaysia must drive it to be so. I believe that with that confidence, we can lead ASEAN, lead this region.
“The administration must also focus on a democratic, equitable nation. It must know the meaning of discipline, ethics and responsibility. Let us band together with the spirit of knowledge.
These five questions connect to one another. We cannot build a climate-resilient economy without effective institutions. We cannot grab opportunities of the Asian Century without education, confident people,” he added.
Previously, Amirudin said the government must design and establish a timeline and direction for Malaysia’s 100th year in 2057 now to achieve unity and ensure the nation keeps progressing.
