Dear Editor, THE Federation of Malaysian Consumer Associations has noticed an alarming lack of focus on the issue of fuel.

Issues relating to subsidies is being manipulated by many parties. The real focus should be on finding viable substitutes for fossil fuel.

What will we use in the future for fuel?

Fomca would like to highlight the importance of focusing on future fuel supplies and the po tential energy crisis to ensure there is continued sustainable development in Malaysia. Fuel and energy are interrelated is sues and are inseparable.

The need to find alternative fuel and energy sources should be a top priority.

Such development must also be managed with a good check-and-balance mechanism to prevent monopolies.

In many developed countries, fuel consumption by cars is re duced by promoting efficient public transport services.

This is enhanced by integ rating all available transport modes into an efficient entity.

We must ensure that fuel we use in the future will only have a minimal impact on nature.

Solar energy and bio-mass en ergy are options we can focus on.

Technologies such as hybrid cars, solar-powered cars and many more are available over seas.

However, green vehicle tech nology is not being developed locally

Local car manufacturers should strive towards making technology more green to pre pare Malaysians for a ‘green fu ture’.

In countries like Brazil, LPG is used for heavy vehicles. To re duce dependency on LPG from fossil fuel, a good extraction system of bio-gas from agricul tural as well as farm waste and sewage should be considered. Efficient engines will ensure ef ficient fuel consumption.

We should not forget that is it our responsibility to ensure there is a future for the future generations. Do not deplete their supplies.

Piarapakaran Subramaniam

Fomca environment desk

Source: Malay Mail – April 16, 2008