KUALA LUMPUR: Almost RM4mil has been paid out under a scheme providing assistance for property damage and crop losses due to wildlife conflicts since 2024.
Deputy Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh said a total of RM12.7mil had been allocated under the Wildlife Attack Property and Crop Loss Assistance Scheme since 2024.
"As of September 2026, 746 applicants have received its benefits, amounting to RM3.6mil," he said when winding up Budget 2027 debates at the committee stage in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (Nov 11).
According to Syed Ibrahim, there were 246 recipients in 2024 with aid amou`nting to RM987,000.
The following year, there were 314 recipients and aid amounting to RM1.49mil, while there were 180 recipients as of September this year with aid amounting to RM1.2mil.
He added that such aid is aimed at reducing the burden of impacted communities, stressing that the focus is on reducing human-wildlife conflict.
"This aid is always increasing but it will never be enough unless we tackle the root of the issue," he said, adding that there must be close cooperation between Federal and state governments.
On a related matter, Syed Ibrahim said the ministry also annually reviews the standard operating procedure for channelling the aid.
He said the process takes between 44 to 72 days to complete.
"The ministry will review this to see how the process can be sped up," he said, noting that the next review is due in January 2027.
He added that there is also the Wildlife Attack Victim Assistance initiative to assist victims of animal attacks or their next-of-kin.
In 2026, he said the ministry allocated RM300,000 for this purpose and 145 recipients have received aid as of September, amounting to RM145,800.
He said there is specific eligibility criteria, set by various technical agencies to ensure there is no misuse.
"Among these are to ensure the incident occurred on the applicant's own land or farm," he said.
