PETALING JAYA: Entering the new year, efforts to protect the endangered Malayan tigers will be among the top priorities of the Water, Land and Natural Resources Ministry.
Its minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar said it was important for the ministry to make full use of the latest technological advances to achieve its goal in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, adding that it would not be “business as usual”.
“Although the number of Malayan tigers – a symbol of our country’s coat of arms – is estimated to be about 200, our ministry will continue our Save Our Malayan Tiger campaign in 2020, ” he said when contacted.
He added that Malaysia would host the Fourth Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation, slated to be held in June.
Affirming the ministry’s commitment to protecting the nation’s flora and fauna, Dr Xavier said it would study the Wildlife Conservation Act and the National Forestry Act to cover and increase the punishment for offenders under both laws.
In keeping with the goals of the Rio Earth Summit 1992, he said Malaysia was committed to maintaining 50% of forest coverage.
“We are proud that Malaysia has successfully exceeded that target at 55.3%, ” he said.
He added that the ministry would address the issue of non-revenue water (NRW) holistically, especially in reducing the physical loss of treated water caused by, among others, the leakage of pipes.
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