Anwar and old friend Al Gore reunite (virtually) to talk climate challenges, decades after ‘reformasi’

Serdang, September 6 — Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim recently conversed with former US Vice President Al Gore regarding pressing environmental matters, including the haze impacting Malaysia and the nation's shift towards cleaner power sources. Gore, who was present in Singapore, conveyed his concern over the haze following the API reading in Serian, Sarawak, surpassing 500 levels on two occasions.

In a speech at the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture, and Agrotourism Exhibition, Anwar mentioned their extensive conversation on climate change and its widespread repercussions, including the recent floods in Nepal. He noted that the melting glacier ice from the Himalayan mountain range, untouched for millennia, had released a significant amount of water into a vast valley in Nepal, affecting both the Nepalese and Malaysian populations.

The Prime Minister emphasized the urgency of Malaysia's energy transition, away from fossil fuels towards sustainable alternatives. He encouraged Gore to visit Malaysia soon to further explore cooperation on climate change and energy transition initiatives. Gore, renowned for his climate advocacy and as the founder and chair of The Climate Reality Project, previously served as the US Vice President from 1993 to 2001.

The two have a long-standing relationship, dating back to 1998 when Gore, as US Vice President, commended Malaysia's reformasi movement following Anwar's dismissal and arrest.