KUALA LUMPUR: The government has approved RM1.7mil in compensation for farmers and livestock breeders affected by wildlife damage from last year to September this year, says Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.
The acting Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister said a total of 394 applications had been approved nationwide under the scheme.
"For the Gerik parliamentary constituency, 36 complete applications were received in 2024 and 34 were approved, amounting to RM155,075.19 in assistance.
"For 2025, up to September, 37 complete applications from Gerik were received and approved, with total compensation reaching RM186,508.52," he told Fathul Huzir Ayob (PN-Gerik) in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Nov 25).
Fathil Huzir wanted to know the status of fair compensation provided to farmers and livestock breeders in the constituency for crops and livestock destroyed by wildlife such as elephants and tigers.
Johari said the ministry, through the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan), takes the issue of crop and livestock destruction seriously, particularly in areas like Gerik where human-wildlife conflict is prevalent.
To address these losses, Johari said the government introduced the Wildlife Attack Compensation Initiative (BKHT) in March last year.
"BKHT provides one-off financial aid to affected farmers and breeders whose property, crops, or livestock have been damaged as a result of wildlife attacks, subject to the conditions set," he said.
He added that the initiative aims to ensure that smallholders and breeders do not shoulder the burden of wildlife conflict alone, while broader mitigation and conservation efforts continue.
