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

SERDANG, Sept 6 — Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim discussed climate challenges with Al Gore, the former US vice-president, in a virtual meeting, the prime minister announced during the closing ceremony of the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Exhibition. Gore, who currently resides in Singapore, had expressed concern over the haze affecting Malaysia, after the Air Pollutant Index in Serian, Sarawak soared above 500 levels two days earlier.

During their conversation, Gore highlighted the glacier ice melting in the Himalayan mountain range, causing significant disruption in Nepal, which also impacts Malaysia. Anwar emphasized the necessity of Malaysia's commitment to transitioning towards cleaner and sustainable energy sources. In response, Anwar extended an invitation for Gore to visit Malaysia to further explore cooperation on climate change and energy transition.

Gore, renowned for his climate activism and as the founder of The Climate Reality Project, served as the US vice-president from 1993 to 2001. Their friendship began in 1998, when Gore was US vice-president and Anwar was deputy prime minister, following the latter's dismissal from office and subsequent arrest. The two previously met at the 1998 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Kuala Lumpur, where Gore lauded Malaysia's reformasi movement, which led to a backlash from then-prime minister Mahathir Mohamad.

Anwar also revealed that he had turned down an invitation to meet with the current Indonesian president, Joko Widodo, due to his existing commitments in Kuala Lumpur.