‘Malaysia’s solar panel productions and bio fuel can help reduce global climate change’

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s solar panel productions and palm oil bio fuel have the potential for expansion in international market on renewable energy, and assist in reducing climate change worldwide.

Prof Jomo Kwame Sundaram, the holder of Tun Hussein Onn Chair of the Malaysia’s Institute of Strategic and International Studies ( ISIS), said these two industries were essential in producing green and alternative energy that could help save the environment.

“Other than creating job opportunities and generating revenue for the nation, the bio fuel and solar energy could help reduce climate change that currently affecting many countries.

“However these two industries are facing challenges from the international community,” said the former assistant director general and coordinator for Economic and Social Development, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.

Jomo said this in his special address at the one- day Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (ASLI)’s national conference on sustainability, climate change and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) here yesterday.

Jomo also expressed hope that the challenges would be overcome once Malaysia participated in the Trans- Pacific Partnership Agreement ( TPPA), which is set to expand markets, reduce tariffs and promote freer trade.

“Malaysia has plenty of resources in bio- fuels as it produces palm oil. It also has huge resources of white sand, a raw material in making solar- grade silicon, especially in the northern states of the peninsula,” he said. — Bernama