M`SIA SHOULD INSTIL PUBLIC AWARENESS OF GLOBAL WARMING

KUALA LUMPUR, March 27 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian government should create
greater public awareness of environmental issues and to provide better public
transport to address the threat of global warming.

Centre for Environment, Technology and Development Malaysia (CETDEM)
chairman Gurmit Singh said the public could help protect the environment by
using public transport and this would definitely reduce carbon emissions
compared with driving their personal cars.

"The government can promote the use of public transport using the same
concept in its campaign to use electricity economically so as to avoid energy
wastage," he said at the Climate Change Forum, here, Thursday.

The forum was organised by the British High Commission in collaboration with
the Chevening Alumni of Malaysia.

Gurmit said high carbon gas emissions were not due to electricity usage but
fuel consumption.

"Our studies have shown that if consumers use public transport instead of
personal transport, it will cut down carbon emissions by about one quarter," he
said.

Apart from that, he said, the public and private sectors should show
continuous commitment to preserving and protecting the environment by conducting
more research and development on climate change.

"Currently, there is not enough support in creating environmental awareness
from the two sectors to ensure Malaysia does not contribute to high carbon gas
emissions," he added.

-- BERNAMA