HUMAN-wildlife conflict took an unusual turn when Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul (pic) highlighted a persistent monkey presence around the building.
Noting that the animals are now regular visitors, Johari urged ministries to hasten humane population control measures.
“We can’t shoot them, as it’s against the law. I suggest that neutering them through whatever means be hastened,” he said, adding that relocation simply moves the problem elsewhere.
Maintaining a light-hearted atmosphere, the Speaker playfully clarified that his remarks were strictly regarding the external wildlife, ensuring no offence was taken by the House.
“Please resolve the monkey matters outside. In here (the Dewan) it is fine,” he said after Deputy Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh responded to a question about human-wildlife conflict involving monkeys.
According to Syed Ibrahim, the conflicts incurred nearly RM5mil of economic losses between 2020 and 2025.
He said the ministry also has a compensation scheme to assist communities impacted by human-wildlife conflict since 2024.
This is implemented through the National Wildlife and Parks Department (Perhilitan), the Sabah Wildlife Department, and also the Sarawak Forestry Corporation.
Syed Ibrahim said there were 244 applications worth RM987,000 in 2024 and 314 applications last year worth RM1.49mil.
“This year, the government has agreed to continue this initiative with allocations up to RM1.5mil,” he said.
He cautioned the public against intervening on their own, pointing out that the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 prohibits such actions.
Among the causes of human-wildlife conflict involving monkeys are shrinking animal habitats due to development activities and unsystematic waste management, along with the rapid reproductive rate of the primates.
