MALAYSIA AT FOREFRONT OF CLIMATE ACTION, DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE IN COMMONWEALTH

KUALA LUMPUR, March 9 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has been recognised for its role in advancing climate action and democratic governance within the Commonwealth of Nations, Deputy British High Commissioner David Wallace said.

He said Malaysia has long been an important member of the Commonwealth, adding that the country’s upcoming 70th anniversary of independence next year presents an opportunity to celebrate its ties with other Commonwealth nations.

“Malaysia has been at the forefront of taking climate action and improving democratic standards, and I think this serves as a beacon for other countries around the world,” he told reporters after the Commonwealth Day observance here on Monday.

Commonwealth Day, observed annually on the second Monday of March, was marked this year with the  theme “Unlocking Opportunities Together for a Prosperous Commonwealth”.

The event was attended by Foreign Ministry Deputy Secretary-General (Bilateral Affairs) Datuk Ahmad Rozian Abd Ghani. Also present were Royal Commonwealth Society of Malaysia President Ramesh NP Chandran and its Chairman Bernice Narayanan.

On areas of cooperation between Malaysia and other Commonwealth countries that could be explored, Wallace said Malaysia is taking a leadership role in efforts to reduce carbon emissions, noting that climate change could have significant impacts.

“Malaysia is showing the way by taking action, particularly on an issue that will greatly affect some Pacific island nations in the Commonwealth that are especially vulnerable to climate change,” he added.

Amid global geopolitical tensions, Wallace said diplomacy remains the best way to resolve conflicts, noting that the Commonwealth serves as a platform for dialogue.

He said countries join the organisation voluntarily and associate freely, enabling members to build relationships and address global challenges through dialogue.

During the event, Wallace read a message from King Charles III to the Commonwealth, emphasising the importance of working together to address global challenges, including technology and climate change.

“Our Commonwealth of Nations holds untapped potential for prosperous trade between trusting partners. With nearly two-thirds of our population under the age of thirty, we are a family defined by youth and possibility. It is our shared responsibility to ensure that they inherit not only hope and ambition, but also a world in which they can flourish.

“That inheritance depends on the health of our planet and the restoration of the natural world on which we depend. Across many parts of our Commonwealth, climate change is not an abstract or distant threat, but a lived reality.

“The stewardship of nature, the protection of oceans and forests, and the pursuit of prosperity secured in harmony with the natural world are duties we owe not only to one another, but also to generations yet unborn,” the message read.

The King added that working together would ensure the Commonwealth continues to stand as a force for good — grounded in community, enriched by culture, committed to sustainability and united in friendship and service to its people.

-- BERNAMA