KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 31 – DAP Deputy Secretary General Teresa Kok today urged Minister of Environment and Water (KASA) Tuan Ibrahim to look into the heavy challenges that await his ministry both in the local and global fronts, rather than be bothering with issues like the name of a liquor.
In a statement here today, the Member Parliament for Seputeh said while ministers of environment of the world are attending the 26th Session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change or COP 26 in Glasgow, Scotland and discussing the means of reducing carbon emissions, Tuan Ibrahim’s major concern in the country was not on climate change but the name of a locally- produced whiskey and the names of other consumer products.
She urged him to create awareness on environment protection and climate change, and not to sensationalise trivial issues like name of a liquor.
She was responding to a statement from the PAS Deputy President that the Cabinet has agreed to bar the production of goods with brand names that can affect the sensitivities of any race or religion, following the controversy over the name of the whiskey Timah.
“I read his statement with great amusement. I also wonder whether Tuan Ibrahim understand the global and local challenges of his own ministry in the government, namely the Ministry of Environment and Water, and whether he is committed to the causes too.”
At COP, the environment ministers are discussing how to reduce carbon emissions and contain temperature rise at 2°C if not 1.5°C by the end of the century, but Tuan Ibrahim is not only absent in this important world environment conference, but his major concern in the country is not on climate change but the name of a product, she said.
“Is the name of a Malaysian whiskey going to cause the increase of carbon emissions in Malaysia or pollute the water sources in Malaysia?”
Pointing out that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has said all cabinet ministers will be evaluated within 100 days, she questioned the grounds on which Tuan Ibrahim’s performance will be evaluated.
“I urge Tuan Ibrahim to uphold the objectives and functions of the Ministry of Environment and Water, to enhance public awareness on environment protection and climate change.”