PETALING JAYA: Six Malayan Tigers have died in "roadkill" incidents over the past two years, which is a significant number as there are fewer than 150 left, says Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
The Natural Resources and Climate Change Minister said the latest Nov 9 incident on the East-West Highway in Gerik, Perak, showed an increase in the number of incidents in 2023 and 2024.
"This is a tragedy for wildlife conservation efforts.
"This also indicates that the Malayan Tigers' habitats have been disturbed and they were forced to leave.
"The ministry is committed to the protection of the Malayan Tiger and to ensure that this iconic species, which is featured in the country's Coat of Arms, does not become extinct," he said in a statement on Tuesday (Nov 12).
He said this was in line with the nine extraordinary strategic actions taken for Malayan Tiger conservation, which the Cabinet agreed upon on June 21, 2021.
"The government's commitment is also demonstrated through the establishment of the National Tiger Conservation Task Force (MyTTF), strengthening enforcement and patrols by community rangers and the Khazanah Integrated Operations as well as setting up the Wildlife Crime Bureau under the police.
"The government is also intensifying efforts to ensure the survival of the Malayan tiger through the Ecological Fiscal Transfer for Biodiversity Conservation, which began in 2019 with an allocation of RM60mil," he said, adding that this had increased to RM200mil this year and will rise further to RM250mil in 2025.
"State governments are also encouraged to strengthen the conservation of Malayan Tiger habitats through the Conservation Assured/Tiger Standards (CATS) accreditation scheme," said Nik Nazmi.
He also advised the public to call the nearest Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) office, its hotline at 1-800 88 515, or the police if they have information about Malayan Tiger roadkill incidents or other wildlife conflict incidents.
