KUCHING: Climate change will continue to accelerate due to ‘revenge travelling’, a global phenomenon of people going on vacation to ‘take revenge’ against the Covid-19 pandemic.
In stating this, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said this will contribute to rising weather temperatures following more travels and carbon emission.
“During the Covid-19 pandemic, we did not have as much extreme weather temperature. There were no forest fires and the weather was fine. But, now there is ‘revenge travelling’ as things have gone back to normal,” he said.
He was officiating at the opening of Great Wall Motor’s (GWM) first flagship 4S Service Centre here and launching of GWM’s Ora Good Cat EV held at the Yu Lee Hong (YLH) Motors Sdn Bhd’s premises here on Sunday (Dec 10) evening.
Dr Sim who is also Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government said climate change was evident with the hottest temperature recorded in Saudi Arabia at 44 degree celsius and in Brazil at 59 degree celsius.
“Scientists said that we have to do something by 2050, but I see with the situation now, by 2050, humans will start dying due to climate change,” he said, adding that climate change is already happening in Sarawak, especially with more rain that causes flash floods.
He said that despite building bigger drains, flash floods still occur and this was due to more rainwater.
“This is part of climate change and you cannot blame the weather. Climate change is caused by who? Humans,” he said.
Dr Sim said that is why it is important for the people to come together and do something about mitigating climate change.
“As you can see, tonight, we are here to launch another EV, and this is very important for Sarawak’s mobility transition – from horse-drawn carriages, petrol to EV or hydrogen powered vehicles today.
“Adoption of EV is so important as part of the green transition. It gives people another choice of transportation as well,” he said.
He thus encouraged more Sarawakians to switch to EV as it is much more environmentally friendly compared to fossil fuel vehicles.
Among those present were Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Kuching Xing WeiPing; Padawan Municipal Council chairman Tan Kai; GWM Sales Malaysia Sdn Bhd managing director Cui AnQi; YLH Autoworld Sdn Bhd directors JP Hong Boon Siong, Hong Boon Pau, Hong Siew Hua and Lim Yian Choo.
