KUALA LUMPUR: The nation’s tropical crops are the key to its climate future, says Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof (pic).
The Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister said it is high time that Malaysians realised this.
“Increasing droughts, shifting rainfall, soil degradation and volatile markets are not abstract issues. They are threats to our food supply, our economy, and our rural communities,” he said in his opening speech at the Tropical Crops Carbon Credit Form 2025 here yesterday.
“As climate accountability reshapes economies worldwide, Malaysia stands ready to do the impossible.
“We are ready to turn nature into a national asset, to turn tropical crops into climate champions, and to turn carbon management into shared prosperity.”
Stressing that carbon is currency, he added that sustainability is not mere economics, but a moral duty.
“Our palm oil, rubber, rice, bamboo and forest landscapes are not merely economic commodities.
“They are living carbon sinks, capable of capturing emissions, restoring soils and rejuvenating ecosystems.
“If managed sustainably, they can transform Malaysia into a global leader in the tropical carbon economy – a leader not just in production, but in climate resilience, green innovation, and ethical stewardship,” said Fadillah, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister.
He further stated that sustainability must be inclusive.
