DAP’s Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng promised that his party will be the first in Malaysia to outline a clear policy on climate change.

This comes after Penang was battered by unprecedented heavy rain and strong winds, resulting in massive floods in the state last weekend and at least seven confirmed deaths.

“As a party with noble intentions, DAP will be the first party in Malaysia that will outline a clear policy to deal with climate change,” he said in his speech at the DAP special congress in Shah Alam today.

The congress is being held to re-elect the party’s central executive committee (CEC) for the 2012 term, upon instruction from the Registrar of Societies.

Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general, said he had already announced in the state budget that Penang is committed to fighting climate change, two days before the floods occurred. 

“While we realise there are still people who are still debating the existence of climate change, the frequency of natural disasters in many of the world’s metropolises means we can no longer run away from accepting the reality of climate change,” he said.

That is why, Lim added, fighting climate change will now be one of the party's agendas.

The heavy rainfall in Penang on Nov 4 was caused by a tropical disturbance.