Raise Environmental Awareness, Urges DPM

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 22 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has called on all government agencies and private entities to pool their energy into raising environmental awareness among consumers. Speaking at the 2011 Sirim-Industry Meet here on Monday night, he said business entities should embrace standards and quality as their main strategy to build confidence in Malaysian-made, environmentally-friendly products. "The Economic Transformation Programme action plan reported our level of energy intensity usage for 2007 as 34 per cent higher than that of other countries in the region," he noted. The Malaysian Energy Centre based the country's energy intensity that year on Tonnes of Oil Equivalent (MTOE). It touched 0.326 MTOE compared to Singapore and Brunei with each recording 0.100 MTOE and 0.151 MTOE respectively, he said. "This shows that our economic energy usage is inefficient and that the country must adopt measures for better energy efficiency to reduce costs," he added. During the meet, Muhyiddin launched the National Eco-Labelling Programme and Energy Management System Certification Scheme (ISO 50001). Eco-Labelling is a method to state the environmental benefits of a certain product for consumers or businesses, to help in their decision to purchase it. ISO 50001 is an international standard which can help an organisation become more efficient in managing energy. Muhyiddin said the Eco-Labelling Programme was the first step towards the National Green Acquisition Policy which would give priority to products and services qualified by the eco-label. "The Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry, Sirim QAS International and Malaysian Green Technology Corporation have been entrusted with the responsibility to draft a detailed proposal for the implementation of the government's green acquisition policy," he said. "The need for energy efficient usage is a window of opportunity for local industries to adopt green technology in business and acquire cost advantage over neighbouring countries," said Muhyiddin. He also said Sirim, the national organisation of standardisation and quality, should take the initiative in stakeholders' engagement in order to expand industrial acceptance for its certification and inspire confidence not only with domestic consumers but globally as well. "In the era of the Asean Free Trade Area now, Sirim should play an excellent role in streamlining the standards of Asean goods and build a framework of cooperation for mutual recognition of standards," he said. -- BERNAMA Malaysia