KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 (NNN-BERNAMA) – Greater regional integration among Asian countries will boost the region’s efforts in developing an eco-friendly transport sector, Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Fadillah Yusof said, yesterday.
This must include reducing trade barriers and working towards reducing social disparity present in the region, to make such growth sustainable, Fadillah said, during his keynote speech at the High-Level 15th Regional Environmentally Sustainable Transport Forum in Asia, held in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur.
Fadillah said, Malaysia has heavily invested in sustainable transportation, supporting public transportation projects, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including the East Coast Rail Link.
“The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), aligns with the National Transport Policy’s goal, to shift heavy goods transportation from road to rail, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The government also promotes the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), and invites stakeholders to participate by investing in EV infrastructure and adoption in Malaysia,” he added.
Transport Minister, Anthony Loke Siew Fook, said that, while transportation is the backbone of modern societies for connectivity, trade and economic development, unsustainable growth exacts a steep environmental and social toll.
“Our choices today will shape the world of tomorrow. By investing in sustainable transport, we not only fulfill our responsibilities, under the Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Agreement on climate change, but also secure a better future for our children and generations to come,” he said in his opening remarks of the forum.
The forum will run until tomorrow, Oct 26, and is hosted by Malaysia’s Transport Ministry, with the cooperation of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the United Nations Centre for Regional Development of the Division for Sustainable Development Goals.– NNN-BERNAMA