Face to face: The King taking a closer look at a Malayan tiger at the Lanchang Biodiversity Centre while his son Tengku Hassanal snaps a picture. — Photo taken from Istana Negara Facebook page
TEMERLOH: Wildlife conservation efforts must be strengthened to prevent threats to wildlife species that can lead to their extinction, says the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.
His Majesty said there must be a concerted effort involving all parties to preserve wildlife, including the Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris).
“All parties including non-governmental organisations and individuals need to come together to preserve this national icon as well as other wildlife so that they will continue to exist ... and this ongoing effort must be made a priority,” said His Majesty at the proclamation of the Al-Sultan Abdullah Royal Tiger Reserve and Tengku Hassanal Wildlife Reserve at Lanchang Biodiversity Centre in Pahang yesterday.
Also present was the Regent of Pahang Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah, Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, state local government, housing, environment and green technology committee chairman Datuk Seri Johari Harun and Pahang police chief Datuk Yahaya Othman.
Sultan Abdullah welcomed the move taken by the state government in gazetting 134,183ha of land in stages for the Al-Sultan Abdullah Royal Tiger Reserve, and expressed appreciation for the efforts taken by his son Tengku Hassanal in fighting to protect the Malayan tiger and their ecosystem.
“I will be launching a large reserve area in my name and my son’s. In the 45 years I was Pahang Regent, there was no effort to reserve a large area in the name of the Sultan or the Regent, so this is a positive paradigm shift.
“I hope the gazetted areas will be maintained as best as possible. We will make this an example to the world on how to protect the environment, the Malayan tiger and other wild animals,” said His Majesty, who also expressed hope that Pahang would take into account environmental aspects before approving any project in addition to taking a coherent approach to enhance sustainable development.
Meanwhile, the Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry (NRECC) said the Global Tiger Day that was observed yesterday is a good time to consider the plight of the Malayan tiger as well as the habitat that supports it.
“The Malayan tiger has been severely threatened here, with its population here estimated at fewer than 150 individuals still living in the natural environment. With this number, this species will likely be extinct in five to 10 years if no extraordinary measures are taken,” it said in a statement.
“The reduction in the population is caused by the loss of habitat and food sources due to deforestation or change of land use.
“In addition to this, the tiger is also illegally hunted as well as subject to illegal wildlife trade due to demand in the black market,” said Nik Nazmi in the statement.
