MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek has proposed the formation of a “Green Coalition” between Malaysia and China as a long-term investment strategy that builds on the strengths of both countries.
He said the idea was an “innovative and ground-breaking” concept that would not only move Malaysia’s electronics industry up the value chain but also help China realise its goal of wider adoption of renewable and eco-friendly power generation.
“This idea will bring us to the next level of collaboration between the two nations. This concept embraces new issues and addresses the new concerns of our younger generation.
“It is a concept that leverages on current strengths, built on historical links and heritage,” he said when delivering his special address on the second and final day of the Third World Chinese Economic Forum at the Palace of the Golden Horses in Seri Kembangan yesterday.
Dr Chua explained that the coalition proposed to combine Malaysia’s four decades of experience in the electronics industry with China’s “forefront industrial policies” in promoting green technology.
China’s pledge to invest a total of two trillion yuan (RM1 trillion) to build solar and wind farms in its western region was proof of the country’s seriousness in shifting away from its dependence on fossil fuels, he stressed.
“More than 80% of China’s energy is still sourced from coal and China is looking for alternative ways to fuel its rapidly expanding economy in a cleaner and safer way,” he said.
To promote the proposed coalition, Dr Chua laid out a three-pronged approach which focuses on directly engaging the public and stakeholders and building collaborations between businesses from both countries.
“People today are very concerned about the environment.
“Our pursuit for economic well-being over the last century has brought us longevity and better living standards.
“But this has not come without a price.
“Large patches of forests are being logged indiscriminately, endangered flora and fauna are being wiped out, and in far too many places, people’s lives are being disrupted,” he added.
Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said China should be regarded as a great friend and not a potential enemy, adding that nations should have close relations with the republic to benefit from its growth.
“We should move away from this idea that China’s development and growth poses a danger to the world like in the West.
“China, being the second biggest economy in the world, should be viewed as a great market,” he said at the forum.
