Harimau Malaya or the Malayan Tiger is our country’s national animal and a symbol of pride that majestically embellishes our Jata Negara or coat of arms.
Sadly, the subspecies native to Peninsular Malaysia is now critically endangered and the tragic reality of Harimau Malaya’s plight was detailed recently by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability.
The Malayan Tiger is critically endangered
For illustration purposes
Taking the floor in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday (26 June), its Deputy Minister, Datuk Seri Huang Tiong Sii revealed that based on the 1st National Harimau Malaya Survey from 2016 to 2020, there are only less than 150 Harimau Malaya tigers left in Malaysia.
Huang was replying to a question by Bukit Bendera Member of Parliament (MP) Syarleena Abdul Rashid who wanted to know what are the government’s efforts to increase the Harimau Malaya’s population and whether they have yielded any results.
Syarleena Abdul Rashid
Efforts by the Government to conserve Harimau Malaya
Accordingly, Huang asserted that his Ministry through the Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia (Perhilitan) has implemented 9 strategic actions to conserve Malayan Tigers, which was approved by the Cabinet on 16 June 2021.
The implementation of these strategic actions will be ongoing for 10 years, until 2030.
Datuk Seri Huang Tiong Sii
The strategic actions are implemented through 3 approaches, namely increasing efforts to curtail the drop in the population of Harimau Malaya, increasing the effectiveness of Harimau Malaya conservation and strengthening the initiative to ensure the livelihood of the subspecies.
Huang added that from 2019 to April 2024, 490 offenders were caught with items worth over RM258 million seized under the Biodiversity Protection and Patrolling Programme.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Moreover, laws regarding wildlife conservation have also been strengthened in February this year, including increasing the maximum penalty from RM500,000 fine to RM1 million and 10-year jail to 15 years imprisonment.
Watch the Deputy Minister’s speech in the Dewan Rakyat here:
So, what do you guys think of the whole situation? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
Also read: Tiger in Bentong Dies After Leaping to Incoming Car on Karak Expressway
