CAN members with Goodall (centre) at the symposium. — Photos: LOW LAY PHON/The Star
Primatologist leads 550 corporate heads at symposium to safeguard Malaysian gibbons
Malaysia has been urged to do more to protect endangered gibbons in the country.
Renowned primatologist and conservationist Jane Goodall, who is advocating for Malaysian gibbons, said these primates should be given the same protection accorded to other apes.
“The great apes like the gorillas, orang utans and chimpanzees are all protected.
“However, there is no programme to relocate gibbons that are left in very tiny pieces of forest where there is no chance for them to propagate.
“They should be moved into places where they can survive, but there are no such plans,” she said during a press conference held after the “Symposium of Hope with Dr Jane Goodall” in Kuala Lumpur.
Goodall said Malaysians should be shown the importance of gibbons as “these animals are part of the amazing tapestry of the natural world.”
“Gibbons are extraordinary beings and each of them has something to contribute.
“The awareness of the importance of gibbons can be imparted to the public through education,” she said.
There are five species of gibbons in Malaysia.
These are the lar gibbon, agile gibbon, Abbot’s gibbon, North Bornean gibbon and siamang.
Goodall urges the Malaysian government to do more for the protection of endangered gibbons.
All are categorised as endangered under the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species.
Organised by Roots and Shoots Malaysia (Rasma) and co-organised by Berjaya Corporation Bhd and Tzu Chi Foundation Malaysia, the symposium was attended by 550 Malaysian corporate leaders.
Goodall’s Roots and Shoots is a youth-led action programme founded in 1991.
It is aimed at young people and promotes the values of compassion and respect for all living things.
The symposium’s highlight was Goodall’s inspiring keynote address “Reasons for Hope”.
This was followed by a thought-provoking panel discussion titled “The Heart of the Matter: Going Beyond Compliance”.
Moderated by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Assoc Prof Dr Aldrie Amir, the panel brought together Goodall, Manulife Holdings Bhd Group chief executive officer Vibha Coburn, CIMB chief sustainability officer and CEO Action Network (CAN) working group chairman Luanne Sieh, and corporate figure Tunku Alizakri Raja Muhammad Alias in his personal capacity.
The panellists took advantage of this rare opportunity to seek Goodall’s advice on how corporations can practise sustainable development.
During the symposium, CAN also announced its collaboration with Rasma for the launch of the Sustainability Leaders Apprenticeship for Youth (SLAY) programme that will be available to all Rasma graduates.
Through the SLAY programme, the youths will have a chance to experience sustainability from a business perspective, and conservation through placements at not-for-profit organisations.
This will allow them to gain a more holistic view of sustainability efforts and challenges in a range of sectors and industries as well as a chance for hands-on experience.
CAN is a closed-door peer-to-peer informal network of chief executive officers and board members focused on sustainability advocacy, capacity building, action and performance.
The symposium was also supported by Manulife Holdings Bhd, which is embarking on a three-year partnership with Rasma.
The programme aims to upskill local communities and rehabilitate a nature trail in the Wang Kelian region of Perlis.
Rasma then presented its past and future projects to the corporate audience.
These projects include youth volunteering in association with the Rasma Award, environmental advocacy (EKO-EKO, Suara Bumi), nature trail rehabilitation (Denai Warisan, Perlis), Syntropic agriculture and conservation through art (Wild About Art).
