Natural Resources and Environment Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar has been dubbed the 'Great Minister' for his commitment and resoluteness in ensuring sustainable management of natural resources at the international level throughout this year.
The recognition was given to him by the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry staff during their monthly assembly, themed 'Our Great Minister' in Putrajaya today.
A special montage on Wan Junaidi's efforts and achievements of keeping Malaysia's flag flying high on international platforms throughout 2016 was also shown to the staff during the assembly, which was also attended by Deputy Minister Dr Hamim Samuri and secretary-general Azizan Ahmad.
In his opening address, Azizan reiterated on Wan Junaidi's commitment and roles in leading the management of natural resources and conservation of nature to ensure that they were managed in a balanced and sustainable manner.
For example, he said Wan Junaidi had also led the Malaysian delegation to the 22nd Conference of Parties (COP 22) to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change in Marrakesh, Morocco last November to prove Malaysia's commitment in tackling the issues of climate change and global warming.
Azizan said Wan Junaidi had also verified Malaysia's readiness to ratify the Paris agreement submitted to the United Nations and hence, making Malaysia the 111th country to implement it.
"What should also be admired was his idea to create Pavilion Malaysia as the platform to showcase Malaysia's planning and action in facing climate change issues with focus on forest management and renewable energy," he said.
Meanwhile, Hamim described Wan Junaidi as a captain of a ship heading towards excellence, especially in issues related to biodiversity at the recent Convention on Biological Diversity in Mexico.
He said Malaysia's participation at this year's convention was important in a bid to mainstream biodiversity in the forestry, tourism, agriculture and fisheries sectors, so that they were protected and managed sustainably.
In line with the convention, Hamim said Malaysia had formulated the National Biological Diversity Policy 2016-2025 which provides guidance in management of biodiversity.
"The credibility of Wan Junaidi was also visible when Guatemala proposed for Malaysia to take over the chair of the Group of Like-Minded Megadiverse Countries to represent the Asian region for 2017-2018," he said.
Wan Junaidi, in his address at the assembly, described the recognition and praise as not only for himself, but for all staff of the ministry.
"Here, we all work as a dynamic team to ensure that the ministry and Malaysia remain active as a member of several agreements related to natural resources and environment.
"The ministry and the staff have their faith in me and have helped me and the top management in taking Malaysia to greater heights.
"We have to continue being active as a member of several agreements related to natural resources and environment so that the management could be implemented in a sustainable manner," he added.
- Bernama
