ABDULLAH WANTS SOLAR

Abdullah Wants Solar Energy Development Intensified
May 25, 2007 (Bernama)

WHO
Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Prime Minister of Malaysia; Shinzo Abe, Prime Minster of Japan
Malaysia (click to enlarge)
WHAT
The Malaysian PM wants his country to follow Japan’s lead in developing renewable energy sources such as solar energy.

WHEN
Statements made following a 5-day visit to Japan.

WHERE
See map of Malaysia.

WHY
- Abdullah sees monetary savings in using solar energy to run street lighting, as Japan does. He is anxious to develop technological cooperation with Japan and was promised cooperation by Japan’s P.M.
- The P.M. was impressed in Japan by solar energy’s accessibility and affordability.
- The two P.M.s agreed on the threat of global warming, affirmed Japan’s goal to bring down temperatures by 2050 and promised mutual cooperation.
- The P.M. will also take up the matter of a safety bar on lorries to prevent accidents involving bicycles and pedestrians.
solar powered street light
QUOTES
Abdullah: "This can be overcome by forging cooperation in research and development (R&D) with Japan, a country known for having numerous techniques to exploit solar energy…It's not as expensive as before. Some middle-class households are using solar power but not for the entire house…[Abe] said Japan is ready to work with other countries so that together they can focus on global warming. I told him that as an industrial powerhouse, Japan would surely have the means to carry out its plans…"