KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup says he is seeking a larger Budget allocation for state conservation efforts and more funding to map Malaysia’s rare earth deposits.
The Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister said a bigger allocation for the Ecological Fiscal Transfer (EFT) would allow states to determine their own conservation priorities before applying for federal funding.
“EFT is very, very popular, especially amongst the states because it is a cash grant that we give to the states for conservation activities,” he told reporters at the Concorde Club on Monday (Oct 5).
The session, chaired by Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) Chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, discussed the topic “Haze, Heat & Hope”.
Arthur said the grants could be used for activities such as forest replanting, research into plant species and the creation of wildlife corridors.
He said the approach would allow states to identify what they needed most instead of having conservation priorities determined solely at the federal level.
“I’m hoping that we can get more so that it’s a bottom-up approach where the state actually determines what their priorities are.
“They submit to us, and then we will give them the funds to implement it,” he said.
Arthur said the ministry was also seeking additional funding to carry out more accurate mapping of Malaysia’s rare earth deposits.
He said the country’s rare earth reserves appeared promising, but better data was needed to show investors where the deposits were located and which areas offered viable investment opportunities.
“In order for us to move forward and to draw in the right foreign investors, we need to be more clear about where our rare earth deposits are,” he said.
Arthur said Malaysia also did not yet have its own rare earth processing technology and would have to negotiate with other countries for technology transfer.
He said accurate mapping would strengthen Malaysia’s position when approaching potential investors, particularly those assessing opportunities in different states or locations.
“As a foreign investor, you’d want to know where your rare earth deposits are. Am I investing correctly in certain states or certain areas?
“And with proper mapping, we can then pitch to foreign investors,” he said.
Arthur said funding for both conservation and rare earth development formed part of the ministry’s Budget wishlist.
The Concorde Club is an informal gathering of senior editors and journalists from local and foreign media organisations to discuss current affairs and national issues with politicians and policymakers.
