PETALING JAYA: The proposal to establish a compensation fund for farmers who experience crop damage caused by wildlife will be brought up to the Finance Ministry for inclusion in Budget 2024.
Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (pic) said guidelines for the policy were ready and the ministry would discuss the matter with Finance Ministry in two weeks' time.
He said the ministry had already held discussions with the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry and the Plantations and Commodities Ministry on the policy.
"In addition to compensation for injuries and death, we are looking into indemnifying for damages to crops and property as well, including for the Orang Asli community.
"This is at the government level because I believe only if we can calm the tension (human-wildlife conflict), then we can (achieve) the objective of ensuring our wildlife and forests are preserved," he said during the keynote speech at the 12th Orang Asli Land Conference, here, on Saturday (Aug 26).
During a dialogue session with the Orang Asli community who attended the conference, Nik Nazmi was queried as to whether compensation would be paid out for damages to crops cultivated on government reserve land.
He responded that the matter needed to be scrutinised because compensation should be made to the appropriate parties.
"(For example), if the crops are cultivated on reserve land, that is something we need to take note of, as I said the proposal to extend it to crops and properties is new and still being studied," he said.
As to the release of wildlife into forests near Orang Asli villages, Nik Nazmi said the matter would be discussed with the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) as soon as possible.
He said there must be dialogues between the Orang Asli Development Department and state governments before any release was carried out.
Approximately 100 Orang Asli community representatives from Kelantan, Perak, Pahang, Johor, Negeri Sembilan and Selangor gathered at the 12th Orang Asli Land Conference, organised by the non-governmental organisation, Orang Asli Network of Peninsular Malaysia (JKOASM) and human rights group KOMAS Centre. - Bernama
