Budget 2020: RM83mil allocation to conserve wildlife population, protect rainforest

PETALING JAYA: The Water, Land and Natural Resources Ministry has received an RM83mil allocation in Budget 2020 to conserve the dwindling wildlife population and protect the nation's rainforest.

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng announced this during his Budget 2020 speech in Parliament on Friday (Oct 11).

"There are fewer than 200 Malayan tigers left in the wild, and it is estimated there are about 11,000 orangutans in Malaysia," he said.

"To support the efforts of protecting these endangered animals, the government will allocate RM15mil to the Malaysian Conservation Alliance for Tigers (MyCat) and Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and other NGOs," he said.

He added that another RM48mil will be allocated to preserve the nation's pristine forest and biodiversity.

Out of this sum, RM10mil will be used as matching grants against private sector contributions towards conservation and biodiversity initiatives like the Central Forest Spine, Heart of Borneo, and rehabilitation of degraded forests.

"To protect our flora and fauna better, RM20mil will be provided to employ more forest rangers among retired soldiers and local Orang Asli communities who know their lands the best," he added.

Meanwhile, Lim said the government will also finance Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) initiatives with an allocation of a RM10mil matching fund towards a joint Government-United Nations SDG fund.

"In addition, the government will allocate RM5mil to support the convening of Parliamentary Select Committee meetings and also for greater engagement by Members of Parliament with civil society, including to address the Sustainable Development Goals at the local level," he said.